Georgia State University, a campus in Downtown Atlanta that previously thrived on its “city feel,” has begun its extensive renovation plan. The university aims to prioritize student connection and eliminate the industrial atmosphere. They plan to enhance and add green spaces to bring the campus together in a central, isolated area, away from the chaos of outsiders.
The President of Georgia State University claims that the plan was developed with students in mind. When asked about the upcoming FIFA World Cup that Atlanta is hosting, he denied any association. “Student happiness is our number one priority,” he stated. The $80 Million project was expedited just months before the World Cup after years of static progress.
With construction underway, GSU’s campus has never felt more connected. Sections of the central existing greenspace have been blocked off for a couple of months, causing students to congregate on the few available strips of grass. No need for sunglasses, as the towering cranes shield the sun from their eyes.
With road shutdowns surrounding the demolition, commuters are gaining quality time with their peers while stuck in traffic. In addition, students are forging new friendships as they ask around about various detours.
The historic Sparks Hall classroom building will be transformed into a walkway for students to get to their classes that will now be located further away. Bus routes will not be updated, as students will be encouraged to get their steps in on the new path.
Just last week, one unlucky student was caught in the crossfire of the Sparks Hall demolition. Quietly studying with noise-cancelling headphones, Sophomore Ramona Lyles didn’t hear the sound of the excavator. She narrowly missed as it tore into the building, suffering minimal scratches from the imploding walls.
Priding themselves on their student body, GSU offered her a travel first aid kit and a free session at the Counseling Center.
Unfortunately, the majority of this massive transformation likely won’t be done in time for any current student to experience it in full. With just under 4 months left before the World Cup comes to Atlanta, GSU plans to spend half of its budget on a hyper-realistic green screen to toss over the remnants of Sparks Hall.
