SLU Celebrates Grand Hall Topping-Out Ceremony
Nearly 100 students, faculty, staff and administrators came out to West Pine Mall Wednesday afternoon to mark the newest residence hall's last construction milestone before it opens for first- and second-year students in fall 2017.
Before the ceremony began, attendees had the opportunity to "leave their mark on SLU" by signing a steel beam that was lifted into place atop the building at the end of the program.
Maria Yamnitz, senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, opened the event with a prayer, and Thomas Lally, sophomore and president of Saint Louis University's Residence Hall Association, served as the event's emcee.
Senior Devon McDaniel, Student Government Association's vice president for organizations, addressed the significance of Grand Hall.
"Newer buildings bring more students to this University, and more students means more experiences, which means more diverse experiences, which means better education for all of us here," she said.
Kent Porterfield, Ed.D., vice president of student development, advised those present to “think about this area [including Griesedieck Hall] as a neighborhood as opposed to separate projects because those facilities are going to interact interdependently when we’re all said and done.
“We’re on schedule, and the next few months are going to be really fun," he said. "It’s not going to be very long until we’re going to be cutting a ribbon and dedicating this facility. ... I’m very excited, and I just wish that I was going to be living in this hall.”
University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., spoke last.
“We’re gathered because I like to celebrate," he said. "Almost every building would have a groundbreaking and almost every building would have a ribbon cutting, but why not mark progress and get together and celebrate halfway through?
“What we’re really celebrating today is you – the members of this community who worked so hard to make these moments possible.”
Grand Hall is a $71 million project that will house approximately 530 students in suite-style living. It will feature a 740-seat dining hall with restaurant-style seating, a fireplace and multiple food stations.
Grand Hall will be one of the most sustainable buildings on campus, following LEED silver standards and using flooring, carpeting and concrete made partially from recycled and regionally sourced materials. Campus officials have worked closely with the Student Government Association and the Residence Hall Association throughout the planning process, and students also helped select the paint colors, carpeting and furniture that will be used.