By Liz Spano, Student Reporter

The Atrium’s kitchen in the Brown Library is undergoing renovation in an effort to enhance the area’s functional use and appearance.

The Atrium, located behind the Learning Commons in the Brown Library, was constructed in 1984 and was one of the first atriums on campus designed for public use, said Dr. Mark Tucker, dean of library and information resources.

The Atrium now is used daily to host functions and meetings and provide a quiet study space for students. In the past, it was home to receptions, book author signings, banquets, weddings, concerts and poetry readings, Tucker said.

The Atrium’s kitchen is a small area that acts as a place to serve food for events. Although food could not previously be cooked in this space, it has been a convenient place to deliver and cater for large parties and functions, Tucker said.

The university is using $60,000 it received this year to make capital improvements to the Brown Library. Half of this will be used to remodel the Atrium’s kitchen, Tucker said.

“We’ve been trying to find the resources to remodel this space,” Tucker said. “We want the library attractive and hospitable, and the kitchen upgrade is an important part of that.”

Physical Resources is remodeling the kitchen to be five times larger than before and also more attractive and functional, Tucker said. This includes new cabinets, flooring, plumbing, appliances and workspace.

Mary Reyes-Baskett, director of campus aesthetics, will help to select paint colors to decorate the space once it is finished. Reyes-Baskett’s role involves surveying the university and looking for opportunities to enhance public university spaces, including office workspaces, student community spaces and even the landscape and grounds, she said.

“[The Brown Library Atrium] is an area where we see a lot of student traffic and student community and study groups that come there as an extension of the Learning Commons,” Reyes-Baskett said. “By improving these small areas of campus, we enhance the entire campus experience.”

Tucker said he is not sure when the kitchen renovation will be completed, but anticipates eventually repainting and refurnishing the Atrium in the future, when finances are available.