Four new residence halls have been occupied by students for a semester or more. The refurbished Frog Fountain has been installed and dedicated. Landscaping and sod has replaced a dirt mess in between. The Campus Commons is nearly complete.

Construction crews were still applying brick to the exterior of the Brown-Lupton University Union and finishing the auditorium, outdoor patio areas and the entrance.

Meanwhile, on May 23, the old Student Center was empty and being prepared for demolition. In its place will be the new Clarence and Kerry Scharbauer Hall for the Honors College and the AddRan College of Humanities & Social Sciences, scheduled for completion in 2010.

Offices and services that were housed in the Student Center were moved into temporary quarters for the summer. Affected offices include Student Development Services, Religious and Spiritual Life, Dining Services, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Career Services, Printing Services, Inclusiveness and the ID Card Center. Many of these will move into the Union around Aug. 10.

Created as a part of Vision in Action, the Commons is designed to create an environment rich in personal interaction where intellectual vitality and social engagement intersect; develop an eclectic living environment where students of different cultures and values learn from one another; reclaim the university’s history as a residential, pedestrian-friendly campus; and provide expanded facilities for excellent academic programs.

“It’s an exciting time in the history of Texas Christian University with the Commons nearing its final stage and the Union being completed,” said Don Mills, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “But it is also a time to remember the memories made and events shared in the Student Center. It played an important role in the life of this institution.”