Starbucks opens, Public Safety moves in
Starbucks has finally made it to Coastal Carolina University.
The popular coffee chain had its grand opening on Dec. 4 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. CCU Chief Financial Officer Stacie Bowie says Starbucks was the overwhelming choice by students as their desired coffee brand desired, based on a campus survey conducted by food service provider Aramark.
Located in Kimbel Library, the location includes a full Starbucks bar featuring cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, teas, cool drinks, fresh-baked pastries and desserts. Also available for purchase are whole java beans, packaged teas, an assortment of coffee mugs in all sizes, and even Christmas decorations.
Starbucks’ hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to midnight; Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight.
Public Safety has moved
CCU’s new Department of Public Safety building is also up and running, located just off the U.S. 501 entrance on University Boulevard next to the Student Counseling and Health Services building. Construction on the one-story, $1.64 million, 5,600-square-foot space building began on Aug. 21, 2012. Inside are more than 15 offices, men’s and women’s locker rooms (complete with showers), an interview room with a two-way mirror, break area, a secure evidence room containing five evidence lockers (one refrigerated), a training room and a communications center, which is the heart of the new building.
“The new Public Safety building is more purposeful — purposely built to be a police station, with a separate communications room and a separate evidence room,” says Capt. Tom Mezzapelle, Public Safety’s training and compliance officer.
The Public Safety building adopted some green energy standards as well, such as sensors along the ceiling allowing for automatic lighting based on the presence or absence of movement.
The communications room features monitors that occupy three of the room's four walls. The screens will allow employees to monitor more than 500 cameras that will be positioned across campus.
“With the new building and the new surveillance system, we will be capable of virtually 24/7 video surveillance,” says David Roper, chief of operations at Public Safety.
Renovations planned for Atheneum Hall
One of CCU’s oldest buildings, Atheneum Hall, is receiving a $2 million facelift. Built in 1966, the building served as the original student center for the University. It’s currently the home of CCU’s Office of Alumni Relations.
Planned renovations will convert half the area in the facility into office space for the alumni relations staff. Other plans include installing a new kitchen and prep area, dining and meeting facilities for alumni events, and two suites for visiting faculty, distinguished guest speakers and dignitaries of the university.
The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity have also pledged to donate $30,000 to CCU for the patio renovations of Atheneum Hall, scheduled to begin January 2014. Once the makeover is completed, the patio area will be called Pi Kappa Phi Patio at Atheneum Hall.
The project will also address the deferred maintenance needs of the 42-year-old building, such as roofing, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Renovations to Atheneum Hall will extend to Nov. 14, 2014.
