Cleveland State University announced Jan. 16 that the Office of Facilities Management team will begin a project to renovate the plaza between Rhodes Tower and the Student Center. The project will update the existing plaza, creating a modern campus space.

One major overhaul will be the CSU fountain, which currently does not work. The university is hoping to remove the fountain and replace it with something else, while adding to the green space where students, faculty and staff gather in warmer months.

Nicholas Vandevelde, who oversees facilities services on CSU campus for Hospitality Services, told The Stater the university is beginning the project to improve the current outdoor space. 

“The university has been given the opportunity to provide students with a centralized outdoor gathering space with improvements to seating, plant life revitalization and the creation of a modern shared campus space,” Vandevelde said. “This project will alter the look of the current plaza, creating more collaborative spaces.”

While many are interested to see what the university is adding to the plaza, the project has been met with mixed feelings on campus. 

Shortly after the announcement of the renovations, CSU put a fence around the perimeter of the construction site. The fence alters the walking path that students usually take to get to and from Berkman Hall to other buildings on campus.

Eboni Dunn, a senior at CSU majoring in psychology, described how the construction impacts her usual routine. 

“I feel like I have to walk all over the world just to get to Berkman Hall,” Dunn, 21, said. “This wasn’t the best time to start renovating because I feel like I’m outside for longer since I have to walk around the construction, and that’s annoying because it’s still winter.”

Amidst the inconveniences that many students share, Dunn did share that she was still excited to see what they’re adding to the space. 

Vandevelde acknowledged that some students were unhappy, but explained why the university chose this time to do it. 

“We would like to apologize for the inconvenience the students on campus have been experiencing as a result of this project,” Vandevelde said. “We decided to begin this project during the colder months as the weather permits construction without fully interrupting outside seating.”

Construction for the plaza is set to begin by the end of February. The contractor, which has yet to be announced, will be there from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. The university said it will work to minimize noise disturbance to classes nearby.

“Some demolition will be necessary and there is potential for some minor disruptions as the project progresses,” Vandevelde said. “We are taking as much care as possible to minimize disruptions.”

Vandevelde said that CSU was excited to update the plaza and provide a place for students to connect. 

“Once complete, we are confident that the campus community will have a beautiful space to enjoy,” Vandevelde said. 

The target completion date for these renovations is during the spring season to allow for students, faculty and staff to fully utilize the plaza. The university said it plans to share the renderings for the new plaza soon.