Meeting addresses parking garage

Architects, students and administrators discussed construction plans for a multilevel parking garage structure Thursday morning. The structure could force the relocation or demolition of the Women's Center and the African American Cultural Center. The 750-spot parking structure may house $1.5 million of new facilities for the groups. It will also house a new Barnes and Noble. Members of those groups brought structure concerns to the University and contracted Campbell and Associates architects. Emmett David, director of facility development, said the development is an important part of the Master Plan, an effort to make the University more beautiful and campus-friendly. "We want to make a pedestrian corridor from the lakes … to the Union. That would bring more foot traffic toward our Union," David said. "The garage begins to do this - taking the vehicles, putting them in a condensed area and greening [the area] up." Members from the Women's Center and the AACC wanted private bathroom space compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Architects said they plan to give both centers their own bathrooms. The Women's Center will also have one unisex bathroom with an attached changing room. The Women's Center asked architects for a 350 square-foot social room for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. "That was imperative for us because they don't have a space on campus right now," said Shanelle Matthews, mass communication senior, Women's Center advocate and former Daily Reveille employee. David said the centers will have private front entrances. A wall will separate the facilities from the parking area, buffering sound and fumes. "One of the most important things to us is autonomy," Matthews said. "We don't want to be that building inside the garage. We want to be the Women's Center." Both centers demanded no restrictions on free speech, signs or campaigns in their new locations. University policy allows them to post temporary signs. "We want to make sure Barnes and Noble knows this is an autonomous space that doesn't restrict our free speech," said Westley Bayas, AACC advocate. The architects plan to make the groups' request changes during the next two weeks. Another meeting will address parking garage concerns on Sept. 27 at 8 a.m.

----- Contact Julie Chance at jchance@lsureveille.com