While the semester has just started, construction of Seton Hall’s newest building and Welcome Center, Bethany Hall, is nearly complete.
John Signorello, associate vice president of Facilities Engineering and Business Affairs, wrote in an email that Bethany Hall is open and already being used.
Signorello added that Admissions moved into Bethany Hall and operates there now. Admissions was previously located in Bayley Hall and at 525 South Orange Ave., he said.
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The Welcome Center has been under construction since last year.
Kiera Alexander/Asst.Photography Editor[/caption]
As previously reported by The Setonian, the Welcome Center will not only house the Office of Admissions, but also a gallery and event space.
Signorello said that Bethany Hall’s event space can accommodate 500 people at tables and chairs and 700 people in a conference setting. In addition, he said that the event rooms in the building “are being finished and will be ready in February.”
Asked when Admissions moved into Bethany Hall, Mary Clare Cullum, director of Undergraduate Admissions, Recruitment and Enrollment, wrote in an email that Admissions came back from the Christmas Holiday Break to Bethany Hall.
She clarified that only Undergraduate Admissions moved to Bethany Hall, not Graduate Admissions.
Cullum said that Bethany Hall “is absolutely stunning” and that, “The architecture, design and furnishings are amazing.” She said that, “Those responsible for the building thought of everything. It is beautiful, impressive and it exceeded our expectations.”
Cullum added, “I’m so proud that Seton Hall has a leading edge structure of such on its campus.”
When asked how she feels about Admissions being relocated to the new building, she said, “We [Admissions] are excited to finally have the entire admission team all under one roof.” She added that the building is “easily accessible” for visitors and “more welcoming.”
“This is a building that stands out. One that our guests will surely remember,” Cullum said.
“We are very appreciative to have such a beautiful place for prospective students and families to visit,” Cullum said. “The tour room/information session room is exceptional. I hope everyone at the university will come and visit.”
Cullum said that Admissions has a “relatively small section” of the building and that, “The majority of the space is for events, conferences and there is some meeting space too.”
She added that she was impressed that the building was finished on schedule as that is something that does not happen that often.
She said they worked together with Facilities Engineering Project Manager Victoria Pivovarnick who was helpful to the Admissions team.
Pivovarnick supervised the move and Cullum said the Admissions team are appreciative of Pivovarnick for all she did for them.
Students discussed their opinions about construction coming to an end on Bethany Hall and what they think about the building.
Victoria Parnes, a junior public relations major, said that Bethany Hall “came out nice,” but that “it’s just a waste of space.” A commuter, Parnes added, “I think we could have used it [the space] for parking spots.”
Parnes is happy that construction is close to being over and said, “I’m glad I’m not hearing screaming and getting nails in my tires anymore.” She said she had two flats last year because she parked in the parking lot by the Arts Center that is across from Bethany Hall, which had construction trucks in the area during construction.
Yashi Patel, a freshman nursing major, said she thinks Bethany Hall is a good thing. She added that when she came to open houses at Seton Hall, the Welcome Center “would’ve been a good place for new students to come to welcome them.”
Patel said that when she would drive through the Farinella Gate by the construction area “there would be construction trucks blocking the area and now that they won’t be there that’s a good thing.”
Frank Hunter, a sophomore educational and classical studies major, said he thinks the building should be used for additional classrooms and possibly an additional library.
He added that the building is “very aesthetic, but it seems to serve no practical purpose.”
Samantha Todd can be reached at samantha.todd@student.shu.edu
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