Moving the five schools in the Scripps College of Communication to Schoonover Center is on schedule, officials say.
Moving the five schools in the Scripps College of Communication to Schoonover Center is on schedule, officials say.
The renovation of Schoonover — formerly the old Baker Center — was the majority of Phase I of the project. The School of Journalism and the School of Media Arts & Studies, along with the college Dean’s office, moved into Schoonover in December 2013.
Phase I did have some delays, including problems with inclement weather and issues with a wall separating Schoonover and the Radio-Television Building. Weather should not affect Phase II, as almost all construction is in the building’s interior, said Robert Stewart, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
The total authorized expenditure for Phase I was $22,500,000, but final costs have not yet been determined.
Phase II, which is currently underway and scheduled for completion by 2015, is authorized to spend $17,800,000, which includes re-roofing Scripps Hall at approximately $400,000.
The School of Visual Communication, the School of Communication Studies and the School of Information and Telecommunication Systems will move into Schoonover next summer.
“We are still really early in the project, but I am very confident that the remaining three schools will be able to move into Schoonover when we had projected, which is really the end of spring semester,” said Scott Titsworth, dean of the Scripps College. “And I’m very confident that, starting in fall 2015, we will have a significant amount of our new classroom space available to us.”
There will still be a little bit of construction in Scripps and Schoonover going on next fall, but the majority of the space will be ready to use.
“There’s no question that our primary goal is to create a physical space that allows for collaboration among students and faculty within the college,” Titsworth said.
Stewart agreed, adding that he’s excited Visual Communication will be next to the journalism offices.
“We’ll be more like siblings than distant cousins,” he said.
Schoonover is physically constructed in a way that promotes collaboration, Titsworth explained, describing Schoonover as “a big tent” with “a lot of flavors within it.”
“It will be truly transformative for the college,” he said.
Students are already talking about the new communication center, with mostly positive reviews.
“It’s really nice, I’m looking forward to having classes there,” said Kelly Bondra, a freshman studying Publication Design.
“I have actually not been in it yet, but it looks really pretty from the outside, so I’m sure that the inside is just as pretty,” said Amy Armstrong, a freshman studying Commercial Photography.
Those who will be at OU next year and beyond will benefit from Schoonover’s new labs and classrooms, Titsworth said.
“I think it’s fine, I probably would have designed it a little differently,” said Diana Wiebe, a junior studying journalism and political science. “I don’t know if they’re really making use of the space currently.”
Gary Bridgens, a senior studying journalism, feels differently.
“I think Schoonover is an incredible building, I think they did a fantastic job with it,” Bridgens said.
While Phase II runs its course over the next year, Titsworth hopes students, faculty and others can wait patiently for the exciting final product.
“We’re just going to have to understand that, for a year, we still have to put up with active construction, and once that year is done, we’re going to have one of the best facilities for communication in the world,” Titsworth said.
“You have to put up with a little bit of grief in order to get this great benefit in the long run.”
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