Come on PSU! Doesn't the knowledge that rehabbing existing housing more environmentally sound fit your motto?
"We are not a typical ivory tower university. Instead, we are located right downtown, and we embody the university mission to "Let Knowledge
Serve."
Where is your sense of place? You brag about being right downtown. This building is historic. It's an important part of PSU's history. Old, beautiful, useful buildings are part of the legacy universities leave. Do you think Harvard, Oxford or the University of Washington tear down their historical buildings? I doubt it and only as a last resort. So disappointing. Jane Pullman, MUS and PSU Alum.
No ivy-covered halls for PSU. The last vestiges of the old neighborhood that survived the 405 demolition have left undistinguished buildings and nothing to signal the organic growth of the campus.
The loss of the old buildings is an architectural and historical loss.
There is certainly an argument for not replacing them.
There are also arguments for replacing them.
Below are some of them.
The Blackstone housed 36 students and the Montgomery housed 137 for a total of 173. The replacement building will house 550. This will allow 377 more students to experience living in the heart of the PSU campus.
The new building which will be placed on the footprint of the old buildings, and will have features that the Montgomery and Blackstone did not.
--Private Bathrooms.
Unlike Montgomery and Blackstone, which largely had shared hallway bathrooms, the new building will provide private bathrooms for each unit or suite.
--Study Lounges & Collaboration Spaces.
Multiple dedicated study rooms and lounges for both quiet and group work.
--Classroom Space
Integrated classrooms for academic use, supporting in building programming (something neither Montgomery nor Blackstone provided).
--Community Kitchen.
A large, shared community kitchen for student events and group meals (Montgomery had small kitchenettes; Blackstone had only minimal facilities).
--Staff Offices & Support Services.
Housing & student life staff offices directly inside the building, providing on site student support (previously these were in separate campus offices).
--Sustainability & Recycling Design Elements
Building design incorporates sustainability features (e.g., energy efficient systems) and uses materials salvaged from Montgomery and Blackstone as architectural accents, which is new for PSU residence halls.
--Modern Accessibility & Code Compliance
Full ADA accessibility and modern elevators; Montgomery Court was built in 1916 and Blackstone in 1931, both with steep stairs and limited accessibility.
Lived in the Blackstone in the 70's. We had a private bathroom and other people I knew there did as well. Can't speak for all the units but there were lots of apartments with bathrooms. Never saw a shared one.
Your experience was typical for most of the other students. According to a link provided by Wikipedia, the Blackstone apartments did have separate bathrooms, except for "13 sleepers that share a bath, shower, and kitchen."
Come on PSU! Doesn't the knowledge that rehabbing existing housing more environmentally sound fit your motto?
"We are not a typical ivory tower university. Instead, we are located right downtown, and we embody the university mission to "Let Knowledge
Serve."
Where is your sense of place? You brag about being right downtown. This building is historic. It's an important part of PSU's history. Old, beautiful, useful buildings are part of the legacy universities leave. Do you think Harvard, Oxford or the University of Washington tear down their historical buildings? I doubt it and only as a last resort. So disappointing. Jane Pullman, MUS and PSU Alum.
No ivy-covered halls for PSU. The last vestiges of the old neighborhood that survived the 405 demolition have left undistinguished buildings and nothing to signal the organic growth of the campus.
The loss of the old buildings is an architectural and historical loss.
There is certainly an argument for not replacing them.
There are also arguments for replacing them.
Below are some of them.
The Blackstone housed 36 students and the Montgomery housed 137 for a total of 173. The replacement building will house 550. This will allow 377 more students to experience living in the heart of the PSU campus.
The new building which will be placed on the footprint of the old buildings, and will have features that the Montgomery and Blackstone did not.
--Private Bathrooms.
Unlike Montgomery and Blackstone, which largely had shared hallway bathrooms, the new building will provide private bathrooms for each unit or suite.
--Study Lounges & Collaboration Spaces.
Multiple dedicated study rooms and lounges for both quiet and group work.
--Classroom Space
Integrated classrooms for academic use, supporting in building programming (something neither Montgomery nor Blackstone provided).
--Community Kitchen.
A large, shared community kitchen for student events and group meals (Montgomery had small kitchenettes; Blackstone had only minimal facilities).
--Staff Offices & Support Services.
Housing & student life staff offices directly inside the building, providing on site student support (previously these were in separate campus offices).
--Sustainability & Recycling Design Elements
Building design incorporates sustainability features (e.g., energy efficient systems) and uses materials salvaged from Montgomery and Blackstone as architectural accents, which is new for PSU residence halls.
--Modern Accessibility & Code Compliance
Full ADA accessibility and modern elevators; Montgomery Court was built in 1916 and Blackstone in 1931, both with steep stairs and limited accessibility.
Lived in the Blackstone in the 70's. We had a private bathroom and other people I knew there did as well. Can't speak for all the units but there were lots of apartments with bathrooms. Never saw a shared one.
Your experience was typical for most of the other students. According to a link provided by Wikipedia, the Blackstone apartments did have separate bathrooms, except for "13 sleepers that share a bath, shower, and kitchen."