Students may find the cold winters of Buffalo to be more tolerable after the current expansion of the Student Union is complete.
The enlarged foyer located at the entrance of the Student Union will feature an air curtain to keep cold air outside, a heated floor to eliminate ice, and more drainage for snow and slush to dissipate according to David Ballard, associate director of Student Life.
"We tried to make it an all-seasons space as opposed to a nice summer space," Ballard said.
To accomplish this, several innovations were specifically designed to help alleviate issues associated with winter weather.
"The biggest complaint from most students is that it's always cold in the lobby, in the food service area," Ballard said. "In order to try to put a buffer in there, what we've done is... extend the entrance way and move it forward."
By separating the outdoors and the Student Union with a larger foyer, he hopes that students will be more comfortable with the temperature indoors. The new room will not be completely heated but the temperature will be moderated.
The new foyer will also help to eliminate snow and slush buildup on the floor of the Student Union.
"All of the slush and the snow winds up getting inside the building," Ballard said. "The small vestibule that we had just couldn't handle that. So we've expanded the vestibule, we've enlarged the area, we put more drains in."
Ballard and Student Life hope to increase the overall value of the space and turn it into a place that students can enjoy all year long.
"By enclosing it we can enjoy all four seasons," Ballard said. "There's going to be windows that are going to be opened. You'll be able to sit out there in the fresh air on nice days."
The space, which was once used frequently by smokers, will now be indoors and smoking will be prohibited. According to Ballard, this will be a positive change for the campus.
"The smoking in that area was illegal because they weren't far enough from the building itself," he said. "Hopefully this will move them a little bit further out... to a more appropriate space."
The updated foyer comes in addition to the new Tim Hortons and Jump Asian Express restaurants added during the summer break.
On Sept. 3 the roof of the Student Union will be redone as well, due to damage from a recent hailstorm.
Construction on the foyer began immediately after graduation and has been going on all summer. Ballard hopes to have all entries reopened by Aug. 29 and new furniture added the week after that.
For now, students must use alternative doorways due to the construction.
"It was a very large project and we really consolidated it into a small amount of time," Ballard said. "We have been working feverishly all summer to try to get the job done. I think it's going to be a place that students are going to want to come to and enjoy."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
