Keene Equinox

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Patrick McNey, Photo Editor The new alumni center building is planned to be located on the east side of Main Street, across from the president's house.

Keene State College's alumni building will see change in the near furture with a new location in the works.

This new building plans on incorporating students, faculty, and the community on academic and social levels.

Since 2004, the college's master plan has included major changes in the alumni building. The alumni center will be moved across from the post office on Marlborough Street.

This move has caused controversy on a local and political level. Jay Kahn, vice president for finance said, "What originally surfaced as a political issue was further identified as a misunderstanding. "

Plans are being made for a selective demolition in fall 2008, but no real construction will take place until spring 2009.

The work will continue through the summer and the building will be ready for occupation in spring 2010. "Right now we are trying to create a building that fits into the character of Main Street," said Kahn.

"We want the building to maintain a residential feel by setting it back from the street and keeping the height and roof as residential as possible. Previously a three level building has now turned into a two level building with most of the work being done in building 232," said Kahn.

This expansion also has a lot to do with storage issues. Right now the alumni building holds supplies for major events such as homecoming and alumni weekend. Along with this fact comes the obvious increase in student enrollment and the need to get KSC on the same track as the rest.

"Keene State is late to this game, we are not unique. The overall campus master plan from 2004 plan anticipated some enrollment growth and how the campus would accommodate the additional students as well as programs and support services," said Kahn.

Another luxury that will be gone due to the move is the rent out rooms that are upstairs in the alumni office. These rent out rooms make it possible for alumni to come back to the college and stay on campus but as of June, alumni's will no longer have this unique opportunity.

Kahn explained that, "additional rooms would be made available for alums in Fiske Hall."

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