Hi, there Bearcats. As some of you may have known, Baruch College has been working on creating a lounge area for students. The construction of the project is concluding as the staff conducts a final walkthrough on the new student center.

The Allen G. & Mary E. Aaronson Student Center, named after Baruch’s alumnus Allen Aaronson of the class of 1948, is located under the USPS Post Office across the street from the 24th Street side of the Newman Vertical Campus.

The new student center’s design holds a modern taste, which reminds me of the sixth floor computer lab in the library building. The design itself has been rewarded a juried design award from their AIA Chapter.

The new student center will be a lounge area used to study and meet in groups. In the future, when our current situation becomes better, the center is planned to be ready to use once students can resume traveling to campus.

Since it’s not a library space, students can speak at a causal volume but still acknowledge an appropriate speaking volume.

Eating in the lounge is not allowed, as the faculties would like to keep the area sanitized for all students to use. It is not a reservable space for clubs to host events.

There will be a few pop-up events, but the space’s goal is meant for students to study and socialize. Students can also reserve a study room resembling the sixth floor computer lab to meet with their groups.

The Undergraduate Student Government will be planning an opening ceremony once it is ready to open and it will be held in the new student center to celebrate the different cultures at Baruch. The opening date is still to be determined since we received no words on when in-person school will be resuming.

I won’t get the chance to use the space compared to all of you, since I am a senior. For those of you who are not seniors, I highly recommend enjoying the new student center once it is available — after all, it was made for you.