The Flight Deck, a student hang spot located on the first floor of the Don Taft University Center, closed on Sept. 9 to undergo expansion and renovation throughout the fall semester.
Tom Vitucci, director of Campus Recreation, said the expansion will increase the size of the Flight Deck from 2,500 square feet to just under 6,000 square feet. He hopes it will reopen in January, in time for the start of the winter semester.
The plans include knocking down the wall behind the bar and enclosing the overhang behind it. The front windows will be removed and replaced by three sliding glass doors. The area to the right of the bar will be expanded and become a separate game room with more billiards tables. The stage will be replaced with one that folds up against the back wall. An outdoor deck with seating and a bar will be also added. The grassy area adjacent to the pond will also undergo a renovation, which will include study cabanas and space for a 60-by-60-foot tent for events.
A kitchen will be built to the left of the bar, where the pool table was located. The Flight Deck will serve traditional pub food but will also offer healthier options. Vitucci said the goal is to create a unique dining experience on campus.
“We wanted to make sure the food served at the Flight Deck wasn’t served anywhere else on campus,” Vitucci said. “If you order a cheeseburger at the Flight Deck, it won’t be the same cheeseburger you get at Denny’s Express.”
The Flight Deck’s walls will also get a makeover. The school colors of blue and gray will be replaced by what Vitucci calls “a rustic pub” color scheme. In addition, more flat-screen TVs will be installed.
In addition, all of the tables and chairs will be replaced by furniture picked by students.
“We really wanted the student’s input,” Vitucci said. “So we bought a lot of different furniture and set it up in the back near the Recreational Complex and asked for their advice on which ones to purchase.”
The budget for the entire project is $2 million. Half the funds will be provided by the university and half will be from student fees, as allocated by the PAN-Student Government Association.
According to William Faulkner, assistant dean of Student Development, PAN-SGA voted two years ago to raise the student activity fee. Those funds were allocated to the PAN-SGA as well as the various other student government associations in order to fill short-falls in their budgets. Part of that allocation was set aside for facilities improvements.
The Flight Deck was the number one priority for PAN-SGA.
“The Flight Deck was nice when it first opened, but the university quickly outgrew it,” Faulkner said.
SGA President David Brookins, senior legal studies and philosphy major, is excited about the upcoming project.
SGA President David Brookins, senior legal studies and philosophy major, is excited about the upcoming project.
“I have very high expectations for this space, because it’s really the student’s money and I was very impressed by the drawings. I think the students will be impressed as well, “Brookins said.
Next on PAN-SGA’s agenda will be a vote on the exterior space surrounding the Don Taft University Center near the Flight Deck. PAN-SGA members will hear a formal proposal from a landscape architect on Sept. 11 before a final vote, Faulkner said.
