Mercer University unveiled the first public renderings of the new student center that will sit at the heart of campus on Tuesday in the University Center. The yet-to-be-named building will be constructed on the former site of the Connell Student Center, which was demolished this summer.
The three-story structure will feature improved dining options, balconies that look on to Cruz Plaza and entrances that are designed to take into account the way students naturally move on campus, said Clayton Daspit, principal and lead designer with DLR Group, which collaborated with Sheridan Construction and Mercer on the project.
Daspit said his team surveyed more than 400 Mercer community members during the design phases. DLR Group and Sheridan Construction will now prepare for the building phase, which Elkins said is on schedule to begin in Spring 2027.
Student reaction at the announcement to the design of the student center were largely positive. "I like that they're making it a lot bigger and more modern," said Davette Driscol '29. "I like the switching of the school grounds from older type buildings to more newer ones.”
Driscol said she was most looking forward to the new and improved dining options inside of the student center. Other students voiced that they appreciated how much students were involved in the preliminary processes.
"It means so much to us that they actually take in our input," said Rubby Gyan '29. "Being able to see our ideas come to vision is pretty cool," she said.
Elkins repeatedly emphasized student involvement in the project during the press conference.
“The students were very intentional, but they didn’t want just a dining room, they wanted a gathering space,” Elkins said. Planners referred to the student center as a “campus living room,” a concept that became the backbone for the cozy design.
In addition to the physical structure of the center, Elkins announced a new plaza, the Bill and Kathy Pou Plaza, that would be constructed adjacent to the building and would extend into the footprint of the current College Street Plaza.
Mercer received a $5 million commitment last week from Bill and Kathy Pou that would fund the new plaza, Elkins said. The greenspace will hold a brick-enclosed screen to show televised sporting events and movies. Construction plans also include a coffee shop, soundproof studying booths and a 300-seat ballroom.
“This is really going to exceed their expectations,” Elkins said.
The blueprint includes a large open room surrounded by glass-enclosed offices intended for student organizations. Elkins said the project is expected to cost around $50 million, but that figure is likely to rise as planning and construction continue. She added that the university is actively seeking donations from alumni and community members to help fund the project. High-quality full renderings of both projects can be found on The Den.
Nathaniel Jordan '29 is a Journalism and Anthropology major at Mercer, and plans to become an investigative journalist. He enjoys older pleasures like reading the Sunday paper and frequents local parks with his wife and son.
Jacob Hossler '28 is an English and Law and Public Policy double major at Mercer University who has worked at the Cluster since his freshman year. While not serving as the Cluster's current Editor-in-Chief, he enjoys running, mapmaking, and using the Oxford comma.
