[Cider Jim]

I drove by Doc's Diner tonight, and they are installing a drive-thru window there.

[bluejacket]

On that point, I will agree with you. But I do think that its current format (especially with the new drive-thru), maybe with minor modifications, would be attractive to commuter students living on East, if they do switch East to off-campus housing. That is why I don't think it makes sense to actually raze Doc's to build a full dining hall at this point. If the university decides to maintain East permanently as on-campus housing, that would change things.

I agree. It seems that we are reaching a point where we have to make a permanent decision on what to do with East. I think that we should and will keep it on-campus student housing, but that could change with one press release.

IMO, South Campus needs its own dining hall. I feel really bad for the students in the Quads and South Tower, they don't even get bus service anymore and there is NOTHING anywhere near them; no food, no classrooms, no student center or computer lab, NOTHING. I'm hoping that a major overhaul to South Campus will be added to the Master Plan down the road, for those students' sakes.

Yes, I would like to see those things too. At the very least, they should build a small building for food (maybe a larger Keyhole plus chain restaurant?) plus the planned academic buildings. Of course that could change as well.

I am really curious to see what happens with Vines. That will also be a need following the next campus expansion. This year's convos will be packed.

[vastrightwinger]

My brother-in-law works for Sodexo at Liberty and he said the plan for docs is to turn it into more of a take out place. You no longer come in, sit and order. Instead you order on touch screens and wait for your food. At that point you can sit down or take it out.

[BJWilliams]

I went by Doc's one evening last fall on a lark (just before we moved), and was surprised that it wasn't a sitdown place anymore, which made me a bit sad actually. I understand the need to cater to what the students want, but I enjoyed taking my wife there during her visit to Lynchburg a couple years ago.

[Kiwon]

Well, I have a little present for everybody, though I think 'Medic will appreciate it the most. I rode around the perimeter of the campus today just for the heck of it, and since I wasn't the one driving, I took photos of all the construction projects I went past, focusing on angles not covered clearly by webcam. Next month I plan to spend some time on campus taking pictures outside and inside all the new buildings, which will be superior because things will be further along and the pictures won't have window reflections, dashboards, and mirrors in them. But for the time being, enjoy the following photo gallery: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

I watch the construction cams as well. Thanks for the drive by photos because the cams don't do the scale of the projects any justice.

I don't get the "Campus Center" project. What is it? Where is it? (connecting to the Science Hall?) The "Bell Tower" will go in a different location, right?

Random Thought: It seems unfortunate to place the School of Music right next to the railroad tracks but I guess sound proofing technology must be good enough to make it work.

Random Question: Does anyone have a ballpark figure for LU's electric bill each month? It must be an unreal amount.

[BCXtreme]

I watch the construction cams as well. Thanks for the drive by photos because the cams don't do the scale of the projects any justice.

I don't get the "Campus Center" project. What is it? Where is it? (connecting to the Science Hall?) The "Bell Tower" will go in a different location, right?

Random Thought: It seems unfortunate to place the School of Music right next to the railroad tracks but I guess sound proofing technology must be good enough to make it work.

Random Question: Does anyone have a ballpark figure for LU's electric bill each month? It must be an unreal amount.

The Campus Center is the project also referred to as the "DeMoss expansion." It will be built onto the back of DeMoss Hall, and will feature a new three-story open food court, additional classroom and event space, and both indoor and outdoor student spaces. It will also be connected to the terrace of the Landmark Tower via a pedestrian walkway over Reber-Thomas Drive. They plan to start laying foundations in September or October, if I recall correctly.

This PDF has some renderings. It's the building dead center in this picture, attached to the back of DeMoss:

[BCXtreme]

I am really curious to see what happens with Vines. That will also be a need following the next campus expansion. This year's convos will be packed.

The current expansion, which I believe is the reason there are no Convos this month, will add 1,400 seats, as I recall. That should work for the immediate future, but they will still ultimately need to do the planned total renovation. With the Civic Center plan essentially dead, I'm curious to see how they will do it; JFJR has not talked about it, except to say there is a plan that does not include the Civic Center.

[PAmedic]

XTREME whats with those big tarps they're hanging from the grandstand structure at the new softball field? they painting the steel maybe?

[BCXtreme]

XTREME whats with those big tarps they're hanging from the grandstand structure at the new softball field? they painting the steel maybe?

I'm not really sure. There's been a lot of sudden and intermittent rain in Lynchburg this month, so I would guess they're just doing something that needs to be protected from unexpected rain. Or they could just be trying to keep something secret for a little while. I'm sure they have a hard time of it, what with us always spying on everything.

The Liberty Champion will publish their first issue of the semester today, and I've been told it will feature the first of many construction updates. I'll be sure to put the link here once the article is live on the website. Hopefully it will answer some of the questions we have about how these projects are coming along and the progress that will be made this fall.

[PAmedic]

or they could just supply me with a daily email briefing as well as photo updates

that would be easier.

[Cider Jim]

Breaking news in the Liberty Champion today: "A new student center will be erected at the back of DeMoss Hall to provide room for activities ranging from BOWLING to meetings for SGA and clubs."

[BCXtreme]

Breaking news in the Liberty Champion today: "A new student center will be erected at the back of DeMoss Hall to provide room for activities ranging from BOWLING to meetings for SGA and clubs."

Dude, SPOILER ALERT before you post things like that! Just kidding.

The student center is hardly news, although the bowling thing certainly is. That makes me look forward to reading the rest of the article when they post it online, or I pass through campus this evening, whichever comes first.

[JakeP50]

An on campus bowling alley? I'm good with this idea.

[ATrain]

An on campus bowling alley? I'm good with this idea.

I wonder if bowling will be the next sport added to our athletic department.

[alabama24]

I asked for a bowling scholarship, but they didn't have one to spare.

[PAmedic]

I asked for a bowling scholarship, but they didn't have one to spare.

that was uncalled for

[BJWilliams]

How would it affect balance as it relates to Title IX if we added bowling (which is a women's sport)?

[bluejacket]

I don't understand why we would put a bowling alley directly in the center of the main academic hub. I understand meeting space for SGA and clubs, but bowling does not fit and should be somewhere else.

I would like to see some sizable space in/near DeMoss set aside for debate/quiz bowl and future academic societies. Honors would be a short walk from both.

[BCXtreme]

Here is the Liberty Champion article. Warning: It's a little lackluster. Some of the information isn't even current because the author referenced the outdated Master Plan website. It does have some updated information about the Campus Center and parking garage, and it does have an updated sketch of the Landmark Tower. Elsewhere in the Champion are articles about the dining changes and the softball stadium.

EDIT: The softball stadium article mentions that the old softball stadium will be turned into a grassy area "for the immediate future," and there will be no major layout changes or construction to the surrounding area. So it sounds like if there are any significant upgrades planned for South Campus, they're not going to happen for a long time.

How would it affect balance as it relates to Title IX if we added bowling (which is a women's sport)?

Well, we know they want to add men's swimming and FBS football in the coming years. Perhaps that would all balance out.

I don't understand why we would put a bowling alley directly in the center of the main academic hub. I understand meeting space for SGA and clubs, but bowling does not fit and should be somewhere else.

I would like to see some sizable space in/near DeMoss set aside for debate/quiz bowl and future academic societies. Honors would be a short walk from both.

It sounds like the Campus Center will have more than bowling, for 170,000 square feet. The place is supposed to become the primary student hangout spot.

[PAmedic]

count me as one of the ones scratching my head as to why we're jamming student rec space into the back end of DeMoss.

do we not have a huge student center with multiple indoor soccer fields, pool tables, swimming pool, weight room and hoops courts that we just spent a billion dollars remolding? the one next to the hockey rink? that one.

why do we need another student center to hang out in?

then again, I'm usually asleep on the couch by 9 so what do I know.

[PAmedic]

I should probably have read the article in the Champion before ranting:

A new student center will be erected at the back of DeMoss Hall to provide room for activities ranging from bowling to meetings for SGA and clubs. According to Falwell, the student center will be 170,000 square feet. Unlike the fitness centers at LaHaye, this expansive facility will be a place of casual activities for all types of people.

http://www.liberty.edu/champion/2014/08 ... es-campus/

so it's for "casual" activity.

aka: sleeping on the couch.

well all-right then.

my kinda place.

[BCXtreme]

I should probably have read the article in the Champion before ranting

Yeah, probably.

The Campus Center will be a hangout spot for casual activity and just chilling out. LaHaye is almost entirely a recreation and fitness center. The two locations will not have much in the way of overlap. Except that, last I heard, they will both have food courts.

Also, nothing is being "jammed" anywhere. It's a brand new building that will be attached to the back of DeMoss, with room for a massive lawn between it and the new academic buildings.

I, for one, am glad that Liberty is putting more student space on Main Campus. Prior to the beginning of the construction, there really weren't any dedicated student hangout spots anywhere in that area, even though that's where most of the students spend most of their time. The Tilley is nice, but nowhere near big enough or convenient enough to really be the campus "chill spot."

[bluejacket]

I should probably have read the article in the Champion before ranting

Yeah, probably. :I chortle audibly.:

The Campus Center will be a hangout spot for casual activity and just chilling out. LaHaye is almost entirely a recreation and fitness center. The two locations will not have much in the way of overlap. Except that, last I heard, they will both have food courts.

Also, nothing is being "jammed" anywhere. It's a brand new building that will be attached to the back of DeMoss, with room for a massive lawn between it and the new academic buildings.

I, for one, am glad that Liberty is putting more student space on Main Campus. Prior to the beginning of the construction, there really weren't any dedicated student hangout spots anywhere in that area, even though that's where most of the students spend most of their time. The Tilley is nice, but nowhere near big enough or convenient enough to really be the campus "chill spot."

I fully understand and agree about the need for more hangout space on campus. LaHaye and Tilley are too small for what is needed.

However, I wonder why we need a student center that will more square feet than the new science building when there are still facility needs that must be met for academics. DeMoss should not have a bowling alley. I am not opposed to having one on campus, but build it somewhere else. Utilize the space for a stand alone building for the school of education, school of business, school of government or another department.

[BCXtreme]

I fully understand and agree about the need for more hangout space on campus. LaHaye and Tilley are too small for what is needed.

However, I wonder why we need a student center that will more square feet than the new science building when there are still facility needs that must be met for academics. DeMoss should not have a bowling alley. I am not opposed to having one on campus, but build it somewhere else. Utilize the space for a stand alone building for the school of education, school of business, school of government or another department.

Well, for one thing I doubt the bowling alley will be the size of Lynchburg Bowl. But without more information, we have no idea what kind of scale they're thinking of.

We all know that the Master Plan is constantly evolving, and that the Liberty Champion often omits or misquotes minor details about it. Last time I heard, the DeMoss expansion will also incorporate new classroom space (via the two academic-looking buildings located at either end). Perhaps some of this space will double as club and SGA meeting space; I'm not sure. Originally they were saying those buildings would house individual schools of the university.

With the Science Hall, Center for Music and the Worship Arts, Campus Center, and Landmark Tower all providing additional classroom space, and the space it will all free up in DeMoss Hall, I think the classroom space will be sufficient, at least for the near future. The Jerry Falwell Library alone allowed them to renovate and reassign nearly a full quarter of DeMoss.

[bluejacket]

Well, for one thing I doubt the bowling alley will be the size of Lynchburg Bowl. But without more information, we have no idea what kind of scale they're thinking of.

Agreed. But can you think of another university where they have a bowling alley connected to their main academic building? This alley wouldn't be the Lynchburg Bowl, but it would not be a single lane either. BYU has a massive student center (https://wilk.byu.edu/) with tons of different things in it, including a bowling alley (

but its in a free standing building. Baylor has five lanes in their student union, which is also free standing (http://www.baylor.edu/studentactivities ... p?id=74988).

We all know that the Master Plan is constantly evolving, and that the Liberty Champion often omits or misquotes minor details about it. Last time I heard, the DeMoss expansion will also incorporate new classroom space (via the two academic-looking buildings located at either end). Perhaps some of this space will double as club and SGA meeting space; I'm not sure. Originally they were saying those buildings would house individual schools of the university.

I had also heard that they were considering using the wings for departments, classrooms, etc., but I don't know what the plan is anymore. I think that constructing in world class academic buildings in the middle of the academic commons makes a lot of sense. Maybe a multi-story student center could be built where the School of Religion and their parking lot are now? Perhaps they could avoid completely tearing down the Towns-Alumni lecture hall (only 6 years old) and incorporate it into a new building, since I hear that they want to tear the old building. That way the student center is still centrally located, but not right in the middle of classrooms, lecture halls and academic buildings. This is all just brainstorming.

With the Science Hall, Center for Music and the Worship Arts, Campus Center, and Landmark Tower all providing additional classroom space, and the space it will all free up in DeMoss Hall, I think the classroom space will be sufficient, at least for the near future. The Jerry Falwell Library alone allowed them to renovate and reassign nearly a full quarter of DeMoss.

Eventually, we will need space for free standing buildings for the major departments (School of Religion, School of Education, School of Government, School of Business, etc.) as the school matures. Some of these buildings will probably go where the parking lot between the School of Religion and bookstore is now; the small departments will stay in a completely remodeled DeMoss (hopefully ). Again, this is just brainstorming (at least 25 years from now). However it turns out, a well thought out master plan right now will prevent major headaches in the future.