Constructed in 1984 and named to recognize the generosity of William Scandling ’49, Scandling Center serves as the student dining room as well as home to print services and the Colleges’ post office. It will be expanded to enhance the sense of campus community and the services that support student activities, making it a true campus center. Rendering courtesy of KSS Architects.

Unveiling plans at a meeting in January, the Board of Trustees approved the renovation and expansion of the Scandling Center. Chair of the David Deming ’75 noted, “This renovation and expansion will transform the Scandling Center into a true campus center. The sense of community that distinguishes Hobart and William Smith and will be further enhanced with the addition of spaces that foster more interaction among students, faculty and staff.”

The renovations will add approximately 17,625 square feet of informal and formal spaces. The new Scandling Campus Center, designed by Pamela Lucas Rew ’81 of KSS Architects, will fit within the surrounding buildings to carve out a larger footprint while retaining the historical style and character that are synonymous with the Hobart and William Smith campus.

Slated to break ground April 28, 2007, the new Scandling Campus Center is a $15 million project that will renovate and expand the existing Scandling Center. The project will be completed in the fall of 2008, shortly after the academic year begins.

Providing much needed space for student activities and study needs, campus dining, meetings and other gatherings, the Scandling Campus Center will also be a pride point for the Colleges showcasing athletics trophies, student honors, and other displays throughout the year. Featuring three welcoming entrances, the renovated is designed to connect the three main areas of campus physically and socially. Beautiful landscaping will surround the building, including a terrace area off the café, which will greet visitors with warmth and gracious seating.

The ground level of the new Center will include the following spaces.

• Student Activities Center. Consisting of a student activities area for clubs and organizations on campus, this center will have several workstations with computers for designing posters and other promotional materials. The center will be connected by a stairway to a second-floor student activities suite, which will house offices for the director of student activities and administrative staff.
• Recreation and Game Room. A common area shared by all students, this room will provide pool tables and other recreational activities.
• Gallery Seating Area. This highly visible space will offer a vibrant area for students to meet and mingle with their friends.
• Lounge and Meeting Areas. Two lounge areas, one with a double-sided fireplace, and a meeting room will give students space to study or visit with friends and faculty.
• Marketplace and Seating Areas. An alternative to the Great Hall of Saga, this café will offer sandwiches, salads and beverages as well as a seating area and more private space for programming and special gatherings.
• Terrace. An outdoor terrace will be located directly outside the café. With more than 2,300 square feet, it will accommodate social gatherings as well as outdoor seating for the café.
• Kitchen/Servery Area. A new addition to the existing kitchen, this will be the main kitchen that provides all regular meals for students on a daily basis.
• Faculty Dining Room/Common Room. This space will continue to be used as the main dining area for faculty and staff, as well as a venue for special events.
• Post Office. This space will be moved from its current location to a position closer to the Student Activities Center.

Consisting primarily of meeting and multi-purpose rooms, the upper level of the Scandling Campus Center will offer the following new spaces.

• Atrium. lounge area will include a two-story atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows. It will provide an area for people to gather before events in the multi-purpose room, as well as quiet seating for students to use while studying.
• Meeting Room. Accommodating up to 15 people, this new meeting room will be located over the post office.
• Events Center. Accommodating from 200 to 375 people, the events center will offer flexible space for dinners, performances, lectures, receptions and similar events, as well as a pre-function area where people can gather. It will be equipped with the necessary technology to support most multi-media and staging needs.