When asked to describe the old Swope building, most students would use words such as “boring” and “outdated” – not at all a building that would motivate students to go to class. After months and months of construction, old Swope has been transformed from a dull, dilapidated building into 25 North University Avenue. Even though the ground floor of the building isn’t even open yet, 25 UNA, as its been called, is an architectural marvel. Dr. James Fabrey, head of the Computer Science Department, described the aesthetic as “art deco.” As one walks through the wide hallways and winding corridors, its impossible not to agree.
In addition to a flashier and more interesting design style, 25 UNA is a wonder of open space and useful attributes. It didn’t seem possible that the building – which looks rather small from the outside – could contain that massive a space. It is a maze of long corridors containing offices, classrooms, and computer labs.
There is a central corridor in the middle of the building that has an astounding width, a great place for students and professors to congregate. This hallway contains a large amount of the classrooms in the building.
Along the side corridors are the offices of the professors and chair people of the different departments contained in 25 UNA.
Near the offices of the professors are small alcoves. These have several chairs and a table, which are used as meeting places for students and professors alike.
Fabrey also touches on this subject, saying that “the building has an entirely different “look-and-feel”. It is also modernistic in many ways, with white boards throughout and nice wide hallways and places for students to meet.
Even though all the construction is not quite finished the 25 UNA building is already a sight to be seen.
Fabrey concurs on this point.
“So far, everyone has been quite impressed with the building. We are still in the process of getting all of our computer labs hooked up, but we are all hopeful to be fully operational by the middle of the semester,” Fabrey said.
Another advantage to the layout of 25 North University Avenue is the fact that the departments are now grouped together. This seems like it should be a logical aspect of an academic facility, but this hasn’t always been the case.
As Fabrey explains, “Our department used to be less accessible, as well as spread out over the fourth, third, and second floors of Anderson Hall,” something that might confuse some students, trying to find a certain professor or classroom.
Fabrey’s department, the computer science department, “are all on the first floor of 25 UNA,” a marked improvement from the previous set up. The new 25 UNA building has already proven itself an asset to the West Chester campus in an infinite number of ways.
Amanda Warren is a third-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at AW631747@wcupa.edu.