Photo courtesy Mills College Housing Management and Dining ServicesNew Student Center
$ource: Maggio said, "I'd like to start tomorrow but I need the funding."
Timeline: ASAP
Status: Porter consulting, a company specializing in student food services, has submitted two proposals on ideas for the new Rothwell Center facility. No date is set for construction, and
Relocate post office,bookstore, mail& copy center.
The Plan: a central dining hall will be built in the Rothwell Center, and Founders Commons will no longer be used for student dining, but Maggio said she still doesn't know what they'll do with the space. The bookstore will likely be expanded and relocated along with the Post Office and Mail & Copy Center, which may be combined.
The Challenge: "When we close the tea shop [for construction] how we're going to feed students- how do we make that work?" said Karen Maggio, assisstant Vice President of Business Affairs.
New MBA building
$ource: donation from Lorry Lokey
Timeline: To be completed by Fall 2008
Status: Mills representatives have visited similar business schools and developed a "program" for size and needed spaces. Architects will provide design concepts and contractors will do a feasibility study before any further decisions are made.
Possible sites: oval, lot across from library, behind Vera Long.
Expanded Art Center
Status: Design and development
The Plan: includes increased gallery space and offices, 10 new painting studios, ADA accessible bathrooms.
Already-made attempts to acommodate growth:
New classrooms with upgraded lighting were built in Lisser Hall, and in the Fine Arts Annex, one room received stadium seating to make room for Mills' growing population.
To address parking issues and mitigate added problems from construction, the lot at the front of campus will be doubled, and the lot near Larsen House and the botanical gardens was expanded. Signs designating Resident, Commuter and Visitor parking are meant to help people park more efficiently, and faculty have expressed interest in their own lot, which the school hopes to be able to provide. Meanwhile, the parking lot between Rothwell and the botanical garden has been closed for construction.
Music Building
Timeline: renovations will begin December 2006
The Plan: a concert hall renovation will include new seats and equipment. To meet ADA standards, an elevator, ramp and new bathrooms will be installed. HMDS is looking at using hydrology to divert spring water from causing continued water damage to the building.
Plans respond to student activism for accessibility: each of the
construction and renovation projects noted here will meet standards for design in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
