A.J.’s Café and Jitters won’t be the only non-cafeteria food on campus when Hillsdale College renovates the Knorr Student Center, according to the tentative plans offered by Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé.
In addition to adding both a bistro and a new A.J.’s-like café, the renovation plans to Knorr include transferring the career services office and writing center upstairs, creating a space for the radio studio, and including a number of interview rooms and technologically-advanced rooms, such as those equipped with smart boards, to enhance the business-learning experience and increase interactions between guests of the school and students.
“There are so many ways that career services and academic services support our student body, but we also see a myriad of ways that those can grow,” Associate Dean of Women Rebekah Dell said. “We ask, ‘How can we create a dynamic office space in career services that would service the changing needs of students today so a student is prepared to go out today and work in a dynamic environment? What are some of those key things that are hallmark of an office space?’”
This is the third component of the Knorr renovations, the first and second being the Searle Center and expanded Phillip’s Auditorium, respectively. Like the chapel and auditorium, the renovations do not have a determined end date.
“All that’s a little over a five-million dollar project,” Péwé said. “Just like anything else, when we get the money for this, we’ll start it.”
As Péwé and other administrators continue to develop plans, the tentative designs increase career and academic services traffic by moving them upstairs and making them more accessible. The redesign also will enable students to connect with faculty and guests.
Renovations will extend outside, too. They include building a pergola creating sitting areas on both sides of the main entrance. This outdoor covering will allow students to use a large outdoor fireplace during all four seasons.
Immediately inside, visitors would find Hillsdale’s radio studio WRFH 101.7 FM to their left furnished with a green room, a control room, a program space, and an office.
To the right, visitors will find the bistro — an ideal place for students, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, and other visitors.
“The hope is to have a pub of sorts,” Dell said. “It’s another great way to support and service our off-campus guests coming but also to create that environment for faculty, students, and guests to interact. It’s definitely more of a business-learning hub, where the Grewcock Student Union is the social hub.”
Beyond the radio station, there would likely be several interview rooms for employers looking to hire students while on campus, the career services directors’ offices, the academic services office, a few computers from the Wiegand computer lab, and a number of professional and conference rooms. The Knorr Room will change very little, and most of the south patio will remain.
Once the conceptual plans are converted to construction plans, renovations will take less than a year.
Péwé and Dell said the administration has considered several ideas, including allowing the café to be a student-run business opportunity and constructing high-tech business spaces. Although very few plans are set, Assistant Director of Career Services John Quint said he is excited about the possibilities.
“Our office is very excited about the potential for this modern, professional space,” Quint said. “The career services office, visitors to campus, and the student body as a whole will be better serviced by the addition of state-of-the-art technologies and contemporary conference areas. Not to mention, there’s a pub. First round is on career services…pending budget approval.”
