At a university where tradition is long-standing and excellence in education endures, there seems to be a new buzz about the Spalding campus this fall. Take a walk to the library or the cafeteria during lunchtime and the number of faces has multiplied. There is a noticeable increase of laughter in the hallways, of salutations as students shuffle past one another heading to class, and even a rise in the number of cars in the parking lots. Spalding is growing, both in numbers and in spirit, and it’s no wonder that the newly-constructed Spalding Suites has become a beacon of progress and expansion to come.
The 142-bed, three-story complex—currently home to 105 students, six resident advisors and a director—features a variety of four- and eight-person suites each equipped with a shared full-size kitchen, dining area and living space that includes modern furnishings and a 42-inch flat screen television. An added bonus and resident-favorite are the ‘chalk’ walls—covered with chalkboard paint—upon which students can leave messages and create art. The industrial style structure with brick exterior and interior exposed beams and duct work reflects the growing trend of urban warehouse-renovations in Louisville.
“It’s like [living] in an apartment, which is cool because it is like being on your own,” says resident advisor Callie Howard. “Friends that don’t go to school here, who have visited me, say they are jealous because their dorm rooms are small and they do not have the shared space and individual rooms like we do.”
According to Janelle Rae, Director of Residence Life and Campus Activities, Spalding Suites is not just a place for student to unpack their belongings for a couple of years. “If we provide a nice space for students where they feel comfortable and supported then hopefully they will feel like they can do their best in school as well. I’ve never seen dorms as nice as this. There are some really nice amenities that I don’t think many places can provide. We are really trying to think about the needs of the students—their whole mind, body and spirit. Spalding Suites is a very forward-thinking kind of space.”
Part of this holistic approach to campus living is evident in the programs and activities organized and staffed by the university’s resident advisors. So far, residents have participated in a game night which included root beer pong and cornhole games as well as a session on maintaining positive relationships with roommates.
“When you have eight people [in a suite], you’re going to [meet] people that you don’t know; so that has allowed for students to not be stuck with their same group of friends,” says third-year student and resident advisor Alec Zaremba. “You don’t just have teams walking around together. You’ll have guys from the basketball team hanging out with people who don’t play sports or vice versa, and it’s just a good thing to see; it promotes a healthy campus.”
In the future, Rae and her resident advisors plan to take advantage of Spalding’s downtown location. “One of the greatest advantages of Spalding University that I see is the city as part of the university. You have access to so many great venues, opportunities and activities. Being an urban campus balloons the size of the actual campus,” Rae says. Upcoming group activities include nights at Waterfront Park, Slugger Field, and WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday concert series, all within walking distance from the new residence hall.
“In the physical aspect, the building is a very beautiful addition to that corner of Second Street and Breckinridge,” says Rae. “And at the same time, it’s a building that’s about supporting our next generation of leaders—many of whom are local and will hopefully stay in the area and give back to the growth of the city.”
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Tags: Parents, Prospective Students by awheatley
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