Construction of Towne
getg
the corner. "This is the new pizza oven," he said. "We've
gone to the best pizza places in the area and I know where they get their ingredi
ents from. Now we can make our pizzas with the best ingredients."
Shortly thereafter, Director of Housing and Food Services Jo Ann
Coleman said the words everyone wanted to hear. "We hope to have this done
shortly after students return from Spring Break," she said.
The students were then ushered through the rest of the unfinished com
plex. which will eventually include a new coffee shop, three big screen plasma
TV's, a 25 by 20 foot stage
complete with a sound sys
"l thought it was fantas., tern for performances, an
tic," said Matt Mosley, a abundance of comfortable
worker in PSll's video lab. seating, and new offices for
many of the most visible
"It seemed to be very well student clubs.
put together. It's not real
ly missing anything."
view after the tour, where
their reserved interest turned into outgoing excitement. "I thought it was fantas
tic," said Matt Mosley. a worker in Penn State Harrisburg's video lab. "It seemed
to he very well put together. It's not really missing anything."
Others offered similar praise. "It was fantabulistic, - said David Lynch,
a communications major at Penn State Harrisburg. "It just looks like a very won
derful place. It was a really good use of space that made the place look a helluva
lot bigger than it really is."
Mosley mentioned the 25 by 20 foot stage and the new coffee bar when
asked about his favorite aspects of the new complex. like the idea of not hav
ing Wa-Wa or Turkey Hill quality coffee. It's gonna he good stuff." he said.
Lynch liked the inclusion of a DVD and CD player for students, located
in the new student activities meeting room for clubs and student events. "I'm
happy they're getting rid of Pitta Hut, - he added.
There were only a few unanswered questions the students had, such as
whether or not prices for food were going to be raised. Schiavoni said, in a later
interview after the tour, no prices would be raised to help pay for the cost of the
construction. - The prices will only rise to pay for better ingredients, - he said.
Schiavoni added that the, ha \ c kept prices in the Lion's Den cafeteria "artificial-
Iv lov because the understand that the selection of food is limited.
Outside of Towne Square before windows were installed in
September of 2002. (Photo by Beau Faulkner)
passing grade from
By Peter Strella
Assistant Layout Editor
As they meandered through a maie of partially paint
ed drywall and glass windows, a small group of students
observed Penn State Harrishtm2's new food court with
reserved interest. the east wine of the Olmsted Building's
first floor looked a lot different the last time they saw it.
Greg Schiavoni. Assistant Director of Housing and
Food Services, then pointed to a huge metal contraption in
students
returned to The Capital
Times office for an inter-
From left to right: Greg Schiavoni and Jo Ann Coleman show
a group of students where the new coffee bar will be located.
Behind the wall in back of them is the main lobby of the
Olmsted Building. (Photo by Stacy De Angelo)
Another question was whether or not the target date of late March would
he met. The demolition began in March of 2001, and this is not the first time a
target date has been set for completion. Both Lynch and Mosley said it appears the
construction crews have a lot of work to do, though they felt the target date was
possible to meet.
Schiavoni and Coleman attribute missed target dates to their trial and
error approach. Coleman said they did a lot of experimenting and if something
failed to work as they had hoped, they would then try something different.
Coleman added that they attempted to fix things as they came along, instead of
rushing to meet a deadline, then trying to go back.
"We want to get it done just as much as everyone else wants it done," said
Schiavoni. "If me and Jo Ann could grab a hammer and a chisel, we would."
However, he added that they wanted it done right the first time and would not rush
just to get the project completed.
Schiavoni said that the new complex was constructed to offer students a
wide variety in foods, atmospheres, and places to sit. The goal was to provide the
students with a place to hangout that would accommodate their diverse needs and
interests. "It's this pressing campus issue. All we have is the lobby," said
Schiavoni, who added that the new complex is going to help bring the Penn State
Harrisburg community closer together.
Schiavoni said another goal was to have everything in one place. "We
paid a lot of attention to the one stop shopping concept," he said.
In addition to the new rooms in the complex, the hours of the food court
and coffee har will he extended to better accommodate evening students and those
who live on campus. Milk will he available to purchase, as part of the food court
will resemble a mini convenient store.
Everything looks pretty bad ass. - said Mosley. "It looks like they're not
skimping on it
d court. The
picture was taken last week (Photo by Peter Strella)
square
students