A student perspective on the move to Winooski:
In Early May, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) will be moving from its current location in downtown Burlington, to the corner of East Allen Street and Abenaki Way in Winooski. This relocation was necessary in order to help meet the growing student population and college needs. There are pros and cons to the migration; however, this move will be the first step towards a bright and sustainable future for the Community College of Vermont.
The CCV website describes the new building sitting on nearly two acres of land overlooking the Winooski River. It contains 35 spacious classrooms spread throughout four floors of building space. This will includes four science labs and three art studios. This extensive space will allow for a more active classroom as well as meet the continuous student population growth (“New Facility” par. 1-2).
With plans for an addition to the west wing when it becomes needed, this facility will provide the stability and functionality that CCV so dearly needs. When constructing this new building, CCV wanted to set an example and create an environment and occupant friendly site. The façade of the new building is covered in windows, as are the two wings. This will allow in natural light and ensure a bright atmosphere that will promote positive morale within the faculty and student population. The new building is also seeking the silver rating from the LEED. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a board that encourages the construction of sustainable, energy efficient buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council website helps explain how the rating system works. It is based on a large multitude of factors, including but not limited to: “…location, water efficiency, energy use, indoor environmental quality…” and many more. The materials and resources that were used in constructing the building are also a large factor in this rating system (“What LEED”).
With a move from Burlington to Winooski, CCV is not only taking a step towards meeting its needs, it is also taking a step towards meeting the environmental needs of our region. With the silver rating on the LEED scale, this new facility will be one of the few buildings in Chittenden County that has gone the extra mile to encourage sustainability. This rating will set the example and raise the bar for local construction. This rating will challenge others to follow suit and perhaps even do better.
An issue with the new building is that there is little parking to be found. With only a couple of handicapped spots on the school grounds and a small faculty lot, students and some faculty will have to find other areas to park. CCV has reserved several hundred spots in the local garage, but many believe that this will not be enough. Some students feel entitled to free parking as well.
This issue has two sides, of course. On one hand there are many who absolutely need to drive, either because they live far away, or their schedule is too tight to take alternate means of transportation. However, there is a large group that exists within the CCV population that has convinced themselves that they “need” to drive, when in fact, they only “want” to drive. If everyone who does not have to drive chooses to bike or walk or take the bus, not only will the parking issue be solved, CCV will be taking another step towards environmental cleanliness. According to Jeannette Williams, who teaches a sustainability course at CCV, 50% of the student population drive during the daytime and 85% drive in the evening (Williams). These numbers are staggering when you consider that the large majority of CCV students live closely to the school.
Either way, the parking issue will solve itself. People will take alternative transportation, such as biking, walking, or taking the bus, or they will find it frustrating and uncomfortable when they have nowhere to park and be forced to find a different mode of transportation to school. CCV is doing its part to make this inevitable change run smoothly by providing information on bus routes and setting up multiple bike racks for students.
The site that CCV is moving from is split into two different buildings. Both buildings are shared with other corporations and entities. It is clear that CCV has not been able to establish itself as independent due to the crowded downtown area. Many of the classrooms are musty and have cracks and water stains in them. A number of the rooms also lack windows. Several resources for students, such as the computer lab, are less than impressive. The combination of these factors help to create an overall environment that is not beneficial to the learning process. The crowded streets and the rows of stores only serve to provide distractions for the academic student. Moving away from this frantic nest of hustle and bustle is the first step in producing the ideal learning environment for the students of CCV.
Some may have small qualms with the relocation. Usually these qualms revolve around parking and transportation. Change is something that people naturally resist. However, when you look at the benefits of moving to a new location, people should be excited rather than irritated. CCV will be a more comfortable place to go to school, there will be more classrooms and the school will have a building all to itself, overlooking the river. The site will be a model for environmental sustainability and challenge others to follow in its footsteps.
image by aldenjewell
No comments:
Post a Comment