INSIDE THE NEW STUDENT CENTER

A SPECIAL FEATURE BY THE CLEVELAND STATER STAFF | PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK CAMINO, EMILY OUZTS & EDUARDO OTERO | RENDERINGS COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY ARCHITECT | DESIGN BY EMILY OUZTS

One year ago, we watched the revered University Center “cage” go down in a pile of rubble and dust. Since then, we’ve seen that same rubble and dust give rise to something greater: the new Student Center, part of Cleveland State’s take-charge plan to become a downtown dynamo in the heart of the city. It won’t open its doors until May 2010, but the 120,000-square-foot, three-level, student-friendly complex is poised to shake up campus in a big way.

The Student Center will house a brand new bookstore, two ample cafeterias, study lounges, a game room, student organizations and the Department of Student Life, a restaurant and even a pub, where, yes, alcohol will be served (to those of legal age, of course).

Now, with the help of renderings from the Office of the University Architect, generous permission from the contractors inside the construction site and some hard hats and safety vests, the staff of The Cleveland Stater takes a first-hand look at the new Student Center, from the inside out. -Emily Ouzts

Next: Inside the new Student Center, level by level