Bringing a student center to the City College of New York
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The Net Negatives:
- Hamna Kanwal
- Awa Lowe
- Mohammad Alhusaini
- Krupa Rathod
- Shakhnoza Zubaydova
Introduction
The absence of a dedicated student center at The City College of New York is a glaring issue that hampers the overall vitality of campus life and undermines students’ academic and personal development. Without a central hub for socializing, teamwork, and community building, students are left dispersed and lacking a sense of belonging. This deficiency leads to a lack of focus and drive among students, hindering their ability to fully engage in academic pursuits while balancing personal growth. Additionally, the fragmented community resulting from the absence of a student center limits resources for extracurricular activities and diminishes the overall college experience for students. Establishing a student center at CCNY is essential for addressing these challenges and enhancing the student experience.
By providing a designated space for interaction, collaboration, and engagement, the student center will foster a stronger sense of community and belonging among students. Moreover, it will offer resources and services tailored to students’ needs, thereby promoting academic achievement and holistic development. Furthermore, a vibrant student center will not only attract prospective students but also contribute to student retention, bolstering CCNY’s reputation and competitiveness on a national scale. In summary, the creation of a student center is not just a matter of convenience but a fundamental step towards enriching campus life and supporting student success at the City College of New York.
A survey conducted by the Net Negatives showed that 87.5 percent of CCNY students would be motivated to attend college if there was a student center.
Action Plan
Our student center will be placed in a spacious area with a great view between the architecture and research buildings, a location not visited by many students. If a building that provides helpful resources and can be vital to students is placed there, more students will be motivated to visit the area and engage in the activities within the building. The building will be called “The Dam” since the school mascot is a beaver. The Dam will be 150,000 square feet, each floor including the roof, equaling 30,000 square feet. It will comprise three floors and a roof which will contain a variety of rooms and activities. The top three amenities students voted for in
the survey were prayer rooms, a rooftop garden, and a nap area, all included in “The Dam.”
For the map of the location of the student center refer to appendix.
Basement Floor: The basement of the building will include a gym, two pools, and locker rooms. The gym will have equipment like treadmills, spin bikes, and power racks. This room will also provide students with dumbbells and medicine balls. The pool will be up to ten feet deep and have a diving board. Both locker rooms for the men and women will also provide showers so students can freshen up before class or their next activity.
Fig 1: Basement floor layout.
First Floor: The first floor of the Dam will include a cafeteria, lockers, and bike racks. The cafeteria will provide students with diverse and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks, vending machines, and meals from different cultural backgrounds every student can enjoy. Also, there will be food service contracts from restaurants like Halal Guys, Chick-fil-A, and Chipotle. Seats will be placed in the center of the cafe and restaurants to allow students to enjoy their meals in peace. There will be two locker rooms separated by gender. Locker rooms allow students to place heavy equipment or bags into the lockers and attend class without the extra baggage. Bathrooms will be near the locker rooms. Bike racks will be located outside the building on the first floor, allowing students to place their bikes down before entering the building.
Fig 2: Floor 1 layout.
Second Floor: The second floor will have different activity rooms which can be rented out by the students through a QR code. Rooms are available for clubs, games, and movies. The five club/study rooms will include a screen, whiteboard, and tables with rolling chairs. These features will allow students to be productive while enjoying their time on campus. The gaming room will include a game console and controllers. Rooms for board games will have a variety of games like uno, connect 4, and chess. This can help students connect and make new friends. The theater will host events like movie nights or open mic sharing. This floor provides students a place to unwind after a long lecture or lab. The common area outside the rooms will include a lounge with comfortable chairs to be utilized by students who have a short break between classes and need a place to sit or eat their food. This floor will also include two bathrooms.
Fig 3: Floor layout of the 2nd floor.
Third Floor: The third floor will be the quiet floor. There will be a place for students to nap, study alone, or pray. The nap area will provide comfortable seating with cubicles, for student privacy. Lights will be dimmed in this area so students will be comfortable. On the other side of this area, where the lights are not dimmed, there will be tables with computers and empty tables where students can eat, watch their favorite show, or get some work done. The prayer rooms will have carpet, seats, and a shoe rack. A headspace room will also be on this floor where students can relax, sleep, or meet with a medical professional.
Fig 4: Floor plan of the third floor.
Rooftop: The rooftop is where the garden will be located. A variety of fruits and vegetables will be grown. Benches will also surround the roof to allow students to sit and get fresh air while enjoying the sun. Students can contribute their time to help maintain, clean and grow the garden if that interests them. These fresh fruits and vegetables can be used for the cafe or sold to students through a farmers market. Events can also be hosted on the roof since it is a spacious area with a great view, such as outdoor movies or cultural events.
Fig 5: Layout of the rooftop.
Construction Timetable
The following tables show the predicted time to construct, install, and furnish our student center. If all goes according to schedule, the center should be completed by October 2025.
| Task | May 24 | Jun 24 | Jul 24 | Aug 24 | Sep 24 | Oct 24 | Nov 24 | Dec 24 | Jan 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Permit | |||||||||
| Excavation of Land | |||||||||
| Foundation | |||||||||
| Framing | |||||||||
| Insulation and Waterproof |
| Task | Feb 25 | Mar 25 | Apr 25 | May 25 | Jun 25 | Jul 25 | Aug 25 | Sep 25 | Oct 25 |
| Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing | |||||||||
| Roof | |||||||||
| Installing HVAC | |||||||||
| Interior And Fixtures | |||||||||
| Furnishing |
Fig. 6: Anticipated timetable for construction
Cost and Benefits
We estimated the total cost of the student center to be around 31 million dollars. The chart below shows the budget and distribution of money. The construction cost includes the building materials, HVAC systems, plumbing, electricity, labor costs, etc. The miscellaneous section is for the anticipated events to be hosted at the new student center.
| Item | Cost (U.S. Dollars) |
| Construction Cost ($345 per square foot) | $41,400,000 |
| Rooftop Garden | $15,000 |
| Gym | $250,000 |
| Pool | $150,000 |
| Movie Theater | $17,000 |
| Furniture | $250,000 |
| Miscellaneous | $50,000 |
| Total Cost | $42,132,000 |
Fig 6: Expected total of construction and content.
A student center can be beneficial for both the college and the students because it can guarantee more money for the college and academic improvement for the students. A student center can increase student enrollment and ensure more undergraduates stay until graduation. Resulting in an increase in money for the college. For students, a student center can provide a place to hang out between classes, make new friends, pray, study, or even take naps. Currently, all these actions take place in the library or cafeteria, which is very inconvenient. That is why our college should get a student center. Also, having a place to stay on campus during long gaps could prevent students from skipping their later classes. HMC Architects, an architecture design company, states “Studies indicate that the longer a student remains on campus—and in an academic mindset—the greater their chance for academic growth and success.” (HMC Architects, August 2017). This portrays that improving attendance can result in more students passing their classes.
Building a student center would help the college make more money by attracting and keeping students. More importantly, it would give students a nice place to hang out and be productive. With places like the library and cafeteria always crowded, undergraduates need a new spot to call their own. It is time to invest in student happiness and success by giving them a place to thrive on campus.
Introducing The Net Negatives
Hamna Kanwal is a freshman at The City College of New York majoring in English. She is originally from Pakistan but moved to America when she was three. In high school, she participated in many writing-based classes, internships, and clubs. Through a computer science class, she discovered the title of UX Writing and plans to partake in many internships in that field and eventually pursue it as a career. In her free time, she likes to read fantasy and historical fiction or crochet small bags when she isn’t writing.
Awa Lowe is a first-year student at The City College of New York City majoring in computer science. She attended Marble Hill High School for International Studies and had the opportunity to participate in various STEM-related internships. The experience she gained from her internships motivated her to continue her education in STEM. Awa is also creative and spends most of her free time sketching and designing clothes. In the future, she hopes to find a career combining both her creative and STEM skills.
Mohammad Alhusaini is a first-year Computer Engineering major from Yemen. Mohammad’s upbringing in Yemen instilled in him a deep appreciation for resourcefulness and resilience, traits that are evident in his approach to academics and extracurriculars. As the Vice President of the school’s AIAA club, he demonstrates strong leadership skills and a dedication to fostering collaboration and innovation within the club. Beyond his role in the club, Mohammad also serves as a Flight Test Engineer, where his attention to detail and analytical mindset shines through in his work. With a fervent curiosity and a drive for excellence, Mohammad is poised to make significant contributions to the field of computer engineering and beyond.
Krupa Rathod is a freshman at the City College of New York majoring in biomedical engineering. She was born in India and can speak Gujarati, Hindi, and English fluently. She attended Ralph Mckee Technical High School on Staten Island, where she got certified in business and digital media. Through her previous job as a receptionist/aide at a medical office, she learned about office work, communication (especially with patients), and time management. Also, she learned about camera equipment and technology through a job at a PR firm where she was a digital media editor. She developed an interest in the medical and engineering area, leading her to pursue biomedical engineering. Outside school, she likes to crochet, do art, and play the violin.
Shakhnoza Zubaydova is a second-year computer science student at The City College of New York. She grew up in Tajikistan but moved to Brooklyn, New York, during her first year of high school. She attended James Madison High School, where she was a co-captain of the volleyball team. Her experience as a team co-captain taught her responsibility and teamwork. At City College, she hopes to transfer to the Grove School of Engineering and learn all the coding languages.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the absence of a student center at The City College of New York will encourage student engagement, community building, academic growth, and relax the students. Building a student center is essential for creating a sense of belonging for current students and motivating high schoolers to apply. Overall. “The Dam” could be what enriches campus life at The City College of New York while supporting student success.
References
Boul, B. (2019, January 17). Student center(ed) is the student union the key to retention?. HMC
Architects. https://hmcarchitects.com/news/student-centered-student-union-key-retention/
Jamble, R. (2024, March 21). Construction timeline: 2024 comprehensive guide. SelectHub
raquo.https://www.selecthub.com/construction-management/construction-scheduling/construction-timeline/
Appendix
This image shows a map of The City College of New York. The red X marking where the student center will be located.
