Architects seek students’ opinions on campus buildings

Students got to “Post-it” their thoughts last week.\nSmithGroup and JJR are both Michigan-based architectural firms that were stationed last week in Wright Food Court looking for students to write their opinions on Post-it notes regarding campus buildings.\nThe 12-month planning process focuses on hearing student ideas about areas around campus that they wish would be fixed. \n“We’re trying to find out what places people think are fabulous and what places they think really suck,” said Russell Perry, vice president of SmithGroup. He added that there are a lot of different opinions about campus and the companies want to learn how to make it better for the students. \n“We are working on the new computational center ... And done some other proposals for buildings that haven’t yet been built, the informatics building, for example,” Perry said.\nThe companies have worked with buildings at other IU affiliated campuses as well, including the student center and law school at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis. \nThe main attraction of last week’s event was a board posting a variety of issues students could have on campus, from buildings to parking problems.\n“I think north of 10th Street, where the business school, the geology (and) psychology (buildings are), kind of feels like they aren’t a part of campus ... So trying to extend (campus) will be a good idea,” said junior James Hopkins. \nFreshman Cole Dietrich said he wants IU to have better drainage along the streets and more student parking. \n“It’s good because they need to get opinions from students,” he said. “And there are some things on campus that could be improved and changed.” \nJJR Urban Planner Shannon Roberts said they are planning to come back to campus.\n“At each step of the process, we are going to come back with alternatives and we are going to want student input,” she said. \nRoberts said SmithGroup and JJR will be visiting about once a month to solicit student opinions.