Well, it’s official students of UNH Manchester, we are getting a new home in the spring!
The consolidation of the college over to the Pandora Building at 88 Commercial Street has been the topic of many discussions around the campus. You all may have heard about the great opportunities that this move will open up for the university and businesses around the mill yard, but what does this mean for students? I had the opportunity to talk with Interim Dean J. Mike Hickey and Director of Administration and Finance, Kathy Braun, to discuss just what this move means for the students.
Overall, the space at 88 Commercial will be transformed to a welcoming facility for the students who mainly commute to the campus. While the addition of two more floors compared to our 400 Commercial street location might not seem appealing to some students due to the stairs, the area will allow for more student space and other areas to be more inviting.
According to Dean Hickey, the entrance floor will be split between two different commons: a student commons and a learning commons. The student commons will have multiple areas to sit and talk with friends -- expect comfy chairs and couches, tables to gather at, and some TVs peppered here and there. Dean Hickey said that this area is inviting and one “where students have the chance to relax and have a bite to eat before class”. This area will be anchored by a multipurpose room which will seat about 250 people. The seating is not fixed like our current auditorium, but this will allow the area to be transformed into whatever space it needs to be. Dean Hickey mentioned the potential for this room to hold events such as productions from the Brick and Mortar Theatre Group, lecture series, and other student gatherings.
The learning commons, which will be directly across from the student commons, will house the library, Center for Academic Enrichment, First Year Experience program, and the ESOL program. Much like our Student Services Suite, this will be a one-stop-shop for students when they are studying or working on a project. Braun also said that they hope to have an IT Help desk that is staffed by an IT staff member or student work study throughout the day.
I know what a question on everyone’s mind must be -- what about the food? Something that both Dean Hickey and Braun were very excited about is the addition of a cafeteria, located in the student commons, managed by the same team that runs Durham’s dining facility. Braun stated that there will be a variety of different meals available, however, there won’t be any venting for the cooking area, so don’t expect burgers and other items of that sort. And don’t worry -- Cat’s Cache will still be taken at this new cafeteria.
Something that I am really excited about is that there will be multiple group study rooms available for students to use anytime! If the library isn’t the right atmosphere, or the one of many student areas on the other floors aren’t the right fit, walk into one of the group study rooms and plan your project there! They aren't just placed on one floor and in one area -- they are all throughout the building! That means if your group just got out of class on the third floor, you don’t have to walk all the way down to the library; if the space is open, your group can use it and immediately begin planning. They also can be used for club meetings, or study groups -- the possibilities are endless!
With the addition of the two commons on the second floor, the fifth floor will house all the brand new science labs. So all you Biology majors get excited! This means a new area to work with other students and professors, the potential for new labs to be created, and so many more opportunities! This extends not only to the Biology program, but to all the programs that UNH Manchester has to offer. The idea of this new space can open up opportunities to all of the programs of study -- psychology, history, English, American Sign Language, and more. Expansion, as Braun said, “doesn’t only mean more stuff, but the potential for new ideas."
Taking a step outside of the building, the move to Pandora, as Dean Hickey said, brings more visibility to the city of Manchester. We will be located right off the highway that runs along the river and we are still located in the mill yard and the surrounding area, home to hundreds of business just waiting to scoop up UNH Manchester interns and alumni. In terms of parking, that hasn’t been fully mapped out yet, but you all have nothing to worry about (more on that later!).
So, what should this move to Pandora mean to you, the students of UNH Manchester? It means that change is coming and to take advantage of it. Allow this new space to invigorate ideas within you whether it means to meet new friends, go to the CAE for the first time, get a work study position, or work with your professor more -- just allow it to fuel those goals you have set and use the resources available to you in order to set them in motion.
***
Not a student at UNH Manchester yet? Click here to request more information.
