Prospective students saw the beauty of Castle Point at Admitted Students Weekend on April 13 and 14, where they learned about the various academic and social endeavors possible while attending Stevens. As many current students noticed, campus saw a significant level of upkeep and major developments in long-standing projects, raising questions as to whether this past weekend was viewed as a deadline; here is a quick rundown of some campus projects in the past few weeks.
One well-known project that has been ongoing for a long time includes the new Palmer Plaza and the SS Stevens Anchor. Starting in the Fall 2023 semester, this project was planned to be completed in early February. However, the project was repeatedly delayed, with the team citing inclement weather preventing concrete and water feature work completion. Luckily, the project team finished the anchor and fountain within a week of the start of Admitted Students Weekend.
Another significant portion of campus that saw a considerable facelift in the past few weeks is the aesthetics of the buildings, including refreshes of paint, decals, and signage. For example, the University Center Complex (UCC), the lobbies of the South, Harries Residential Towers, and streets saw new coats of paint as the UCC and Schaefer Athletic and Recreation Center saw new decals on the doors. Additionally, buildings with ongoing projects, like Walker Gymnasium, saw the installation of signs explaining the ongoing work with renderings of the final product.
One last far-reaching project that is very visible was a campus-wide landscaping upkeep. This has included the installation of sod in dead spots of the lawn, the first instances of mulch in recent months, and countless plants and flowers planted from Hoxie House to Edwin A. Stevens Hall.
While many students expressed positive views on the work—as the uplift does make the campus more appealing—some raised questions over why this only happens in preparation for Admitted Students Weekend. While some work, like landscaping and the fountain development, could not occur until now due to weather, some projects seem to have been put off for extended periods. Walker Gymnasium, for example, has been under renovation for months, but the sign explaining the work only first appeared in the past few weeks. Additionally, indoor projects, like painting, do not depend on the weather and season.
While recruiting students is vital for Stevens’s ongoing and future success, questions remain about the timing of these projects. These projects’ completion aligning with Admitted Students Weekend causes current students to speculate about who is meant to benefit from them. While the campus needs to look its best for prospective students, the changes appear superficial. Regardless, anyone on campus this week has had the opportunity to enjoy these improvements and spring weather.
