Joseph Koch Akshay Shah ’00 enjoys the sunshine as he studies next to the new fountain at the Smith Campus Center.

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The $18.2 million Smith Campus Center opened officially last Saturday with a gala event marked by great expectations. Present were the donors, architects, and faculty who have worked for nearly a decade to bring the project to fruition.

Neil Gerard, the director of the campus center in progress, was situated comfortably Tuesday in his new office overlooking Marston Quad. "This building is a transformative building," mused Gerard. "It has the ability to change the nature of the college."

The Pomona administration is placing its hopes in the new Smith center to fill the longstanding need for a multi-purpose student center that was once managed by the undersized, though homey, Coop. Once complete, it will house administrative offices, a student store, meeting and banquet rooms, two food service outlets, and a movie theatre.

Art History Professor George Gorse has served on the Campus Center Committe (CCC) for four years and is an expert in architectural history. "It is a fabulous building," enthused Gorse. "What an incredible addition to the campus."

"It’s a modern building which respects history," commented Gorse. "Here’s a building that re-establishes a center [for the campus]." Gorse and others are quick to point out that this is the first new building to take the original campus plan, a plan formulated by architect Myron Hunt in the early 20th century, into concern.

All that had previously remained of that plan were Little Bridges, Le Bus Court, and Rembrandt Hall. "Architecturally, we’ve been all over the map. It was terrible really," said Gorse, explaining the limbo in which Pomona’s campus plan has existed after Hunt became dissenfranchised with the college in the 1910’s.

The strand of Hunt’s creative vision was picked up by Robert A.M. Stern, an architect of national renown contracted by the college in 1993, who quickly saw what sort of building was necessary. It was Stern’s creative ambition, an ambition that at times overshadowed the desires of the administration, which gave the Smith Center its final form.

Still elated from the opening ceremonies, most involved with the structure are quick to point out its long term potential. But no one will deny that there are many concerns from faculty and students that will have to be addressed.

Complaints, though primarily cosmetic, are adding up daily: the placement and size of the mailroom, the barrenness of the concrete facade, and the continuing construction of some facilities are the most notable problems.

An administration official recently expressed frustration in the delayed opening of the Sagehen Pub and Grill, which has yet to begin proceedings to obtain a liquor license. Aramark ensures the license is forth coming, but such setbacks have plagued the building throughout its construction.

Despite his general enthusiasm, Professor Gorse already recognizes some difficulties; intends to move student art into the building to lighten it up and formulate a plan to place vegetation in the central courtyard. "They’re going to need some potted lemon trees or orange trees, something like an Italian garden," explained Gorse. He believes that in the long term, permanent trees should be planted in the four corners of the courtyard.

Michael Parker ’00, an art major, echoed Gorse’s concerns while walking past the slightly listing fountain in the courtyard. "It’s just too plain. It needs lots of art. Student art. They have to let us give the place some character," commented Parker. Even Gerard, who calls the building home, sees obvious faults. "I could go on and on about operational problems, there’s enough to write a book, but that’s not the point. The point is we have a great building. The other things will take time and money to resolve." And money, explained Gerard, is not immediately forthcoming.