Alter Blogger Says Goodbye for Now
July 2nd, 2009 ( Permalink )
Well, its been a fun ride these past two-and-a-half years. My first post was October 2006! As some of you may know, I have retired from Temple University after 37 years …. eleven at Fox, the other 26 in the now defunct College of HPERD. Working on Alter Hall has certainly been the capstone of my career. However, I am not disappearing entirely. I will be working as a part-time consultant on technology planning for the Fox School, and I expect to make occasional posts to the blog with the help of my our tech crew in Philadelphia. I know we plan to remake the Alter site to focus more on how it operates … what the rooms are like, how to book them, the technology available, etc. Plus, Speakman Hall is being transformed and will soon be home the the School of Tourism and Hospitality and the Statistics and MIS departments. If there are things you would like me to feature, let me know and I will try to accomodate. Thanks for following the blog. I have really enjoyed your participation.
This Time Last Year
June 19th, 2009 ( Permalink )
Last year at this time we toured the yet to be completed auditorium. A temporary raised floor was still in place, taping had recently been completed on the drywall, and AV and seating hadn’t been installed. Today you can see the auditorium in its finished form. For the past semester the auditoriium has hosted large classes, student professional organizations and special events ranging from a technology summit to presentations to alumni and business partners. We like our auditorium.
Glass Installed on Canopy
June 17th, 2009 ( Permalink )
A workmen walks gingerly on a glass canopy being installed over the 13th Street entrance to Speakman Hall while another completes glazing below. The canopy should be done by end of week.
Speakman Terrazzo Work Progressing
June 12th, 2009 ( Permalink )About two weeks ago I showed you work beginning on 3rd floor walls. That work has been completed and terrazzo installation begun. If you remember all that we went through last spring, you’ll recognize the application of a thin shiny membrane to suppress cracks in the concrete sub-surface before laying the terrazzo. Here you see the 3rd floor corridor looking west, with the Carzo conference room at right. STHM and Statistics will share the renovated 3rd floor of Speakman Hall.
… and you thought Alter was done?
June 9th, 2009 ( Permalink )
Workmen install a new glass rail to replace the iron picket posts that once surrounded the balcony off the IGMS Suite in Speakman Hall. The new suite will be the home of STHM’s Sport Industry Reserach Center directed by Dr. Aubrey Kent. Before Alter Hall was built, this was an external balconythat overlooked a quaint little park between Speakman and Curtis Halls. Now it overlooks the Alter Atrium.
Speakman “Moats” Completed
June 8th, 2009 ( Permalink )
The areas surrounding Speakman Hall on the east and west sides have been elevated and finshed with a concrete base to provide an informal seating area in warm weather. Here you can see both the filled 13th Street-side moat (left photo) as well as a new sloped walk leading to it in the image at right. Steps will provide access from main entrances on the east and west sides.
STHM Moving to Speakman
May 22nd, 2009 ( Permalink )
Look into the old Dean’s Office where Jackie and Debbie used to rule the roost (left). Now the office that once housed Debbie Riley is GONE, connecting the old Dean’s Office with the PR Suite next door (right). By the end of July these spaces will become the homes of the School of Tourism and Hospitality’s Advising and CSPD Offices.
Summer Work Outside Speakman
May 22nd, 2009 ( Permalink )
You are looking at the east and west side “moats” being graded and paved so they can be used by students in warm weather. At some point cafe tables and umbrellas will be added and stairs will be opened from entrances on both the 13th St. and Liacouras Walk sides of the building. The picture at right shows paving completed on Liacouras Walk.
Business Journal Special Feature
May 15th, 2009 ( Permalink )
If you received today’s Philadelphia Business Journal, I am sure you saw the stunning special supplement featuring Alter Hall. If not, go out and buy one right now (or stop by the Dean’s Office to get one free!)
They’re Baaack!
May 12th, 2009 ( Permalink )I haven’t mentioned Speakman Hall in a while. You know by now that considerable time, money and effort has gone into upgrading the 40-year old building that adjoins Alter Hall. Way back in November 2007, I introduced you to material being troweled on walls to give them a limestone block appearance and brighten the overall ambience. That product is called “Sto,” and at the time only the 1st and 2nd floors were treated. Beginning today, that same material is being applied to the 3rd floor walls in Speakman Hall. Here one of the workmen trowels on “brown coat” outside of what used to be the IGMS suite, soon to house the Sport Management program in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
John DeAngelo