New chandelier, campus master plan unveiled at Convocation
By: Josh Kurtz
Issue date: 10/20/06 Section: News
Originally published: 10/20/06 at 1:10 AM EST
Last update: 10/20/06 at 1:10 AM EST
Originally published: 10/20/06 at 1:10 AM EST
Last update: 10/20/06 at 1:10 AM EST
Members of the University's faculty and staff, as well as some students, gathered in the Main auditorium Oct. 16 for Founders Day and Convocation, the official beginning to the new school year. For many, the most remarkable segment of the ceremony was the presentation of a new master plan for the University that includes replacing some current buildings and constructing many new structures, including dorms, academic buildings and a skyscraper.
After the opening procession, Provost Stephen Director and Harold Pote of the Board of Trustees gave opening remarks and greetings. They presented an upbeat, positive view of the University, specifically mentioning Drexel's strong incoming class, the Pennoni Honors College and the University's new Law School as reasons for their optimism.
The Keynote Address, given by University President Constantine Papadakis, followed the opening remarks. Papadakis started out by echoing the sentiments of the previous speakers, saying that Drexel's law school is already one of the nation's top 100 and that Drexel Law joins Northeastern's law school as the country's only co-op law programs.
Papadakis followed his opening address by presenting a master plan - a plan that will involve significant changes to the campus and some of its buildings over the next five years and beyond. Papadakis unveiled his plan using a slideshow that outlined which areas would be altered and what the new changes might look like when the changes were complete.
He began by stating that he hopes to construct a new building to replace Stratton Hall at the corner of 34th and Chestnut streets.
The next unveiled renovation plan was for the Dakalakis Athletic Center. Acknowledging that the center is perhaps not expansive enough to serve the whole Drexel Community adequately, Papadakis said that the University plans to add an extension on to it, thereby creating a new Drexel wellness center. In the coming years, the University hopes to move its basketball arena into a refurbished Armory that seats 4,000 fans. The Armory would also be used for other major events, Papadakis said.
After the opening procession, Provost Stephen Director and Harold Pote of the Board of Trustees gave opening remarks and greetings. They presented an upbeat, positive view of the University, specifically mentioning Drexel's strong incoming class, the Pennoni Honors College and the University's new Law School as reasons for their optimism.
The Keynote Address, given by University President Constantine Papadakis, followed the opening remarks. Papadakis started out by echoing the sentiments of the previous speakers, saying that Drexel's law school is already one of the nation's top 100 and that Drexel Law joins Northeastern's law school as the country's only co-op law programs.
Papadakis followed his opening address by presenting a master plan - a plan that will involve significant changes to the campus and some of its buildings over the next five years and beyond. Papadakis unveiled his plan using a slideshow that outlined which areas would be altered and what the new changes might look like when the changes were complete.
He began by stating that he hopes to construct a new building to replace Stratton Hall at the corner of 34th and Chestnut streets.
The next unveiled renovation plan was for the Dakalakis Athletic Center. Acknowledging that the center is perhaps not expansive enough to serve the whole Drexel Community adequately, Papadakis said that the University plans to add an extension on to it, thereby creating a new Drexel wellness center. In the coming years, the University hopes to move its basketball arena into a refurbished Armory that seats 4,000 fans. The Armory would also be used for other major events, Papadakis said.
Pete Grice, COE 1970
posted 10/21/06 @ 9:57 AM EST
Drexel's campus has certainly changed alot since I was there between '65 and '70. Back then Stratton Hall was still relatively new, Woodland Ave crossed diagonally from Chestnut to Market, the Quad was eventually constructed and Disque Hall built, and the DAC meant Drexel Activities Center, now the James Creese center. (Continued…)