News
 

Honors begins return to library

College will begin using 'rather cushy' quarters after break

by Jennifer Brzowski
The Daily Cougar

After 25 years in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library's basement and nearly another year in temporary trailers, The Honors College will begin moving into its new, permanent abode in the library's new wing today.

"(We're) excited to return to the center of campus ? both the spatial and the symbolic center ? which is the library," Honors College Dean Ted Estess said. "Without the generosity of many donors, this wouldn't have been possible."

The college's new quarters are roughly 17,000 square feet and include a large classroom, three seminar rooms, a library, offices, a computer lab and a dramatic two-story commons area with a terrace overlooking Cullen Performance Hall and Lynn Eusan Park.

"It's the nicest thing to happen to The Honors College since it became The Honors College," political science/honors professor Ross Lence said.

The new space contains something the college has been missing for some time: windows.

"The natural light, of course, is going to be a big lift to everyone's spirits. We were down in the dungeon for so long we felt like rats and moles," joked Assistant Dean William Monroe.

Physical benefits aside, honors faculty are quick to point out the wider impact their new headquarters will have on the UH community. 

"We hope that a lot of non-honors people also make use of (the facilities)," Monroe said, noting that many areas are for public use.

Estess said the space will make UH more appealing to prospective students, and Lence mentioned a recent recruitment event during which potential students and their parents were impressed by the new offices.

Current students also said they're excited.

"I look forward to spending more time in a nice facility as opposed to having to go into portable buildings all the time. I feel like we (were) kind of separated from the University," biology and geology senior Eric Elton said.

"I'm very pleased and impressed that The Honors College is making the move from their temporary abode to the rather cushy new library venue," biochemical engineering sophomore David Wallace-Bradley said.

Classes will be held in the new space beginning March 22, but the process of moving and settling in will continue as construction and renovation of the Anderson Library reaches completion. Estess said the library's new wing will be largely complete by the week after Spring Break, but renovation of the old sections of the building and completion of a 24-hour study area will still be under way.
 

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu