Students and faculty speak out on Learning Plaza replacing Willis Hall

By Kelly Contreras | Published by September 17th, 2019 

Last semester, Willis Hall could be seen across from the faculty parking lot. Now, without a trace of its original memory, Kean University has a new Learning Plaza.

It was decided by Kean University President Dawood Farahi for Willis Hall to be demolished during the 2018 College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Convocation.

The demolition of Willis Hall began in May after an assessment of the building revealed renovations would be too costly. The Learning Plaza is currently an open area that was cleaned up and ready for use a week prior to the Fall semester.

Jeremy Gusset, a fourth-year architecture student and student worker/intern for campus planning and facilities, said the idea of what to do with the new space after Willis Hall’s demolition was a group effort from administration along with the facilities and campus planning department.

“I didn’t know there was a hall here,” said Eric Palin, a Health and Physical Education major.

Although there are students and faculty who do remember.

“The Learning Plaza’s purpose is to open up the campus instead of there being a cluster of buildings like there were before,” Gusset said.

Many students said they had similar concerns, including the purpose of the Leaning Plaza, why there were no chairs and why money was spent on “sticks.”

The “sticks” are electric and equipped with lighting. There is a small cover on the edge and once it is slid up, USB ports and outlets are visible and available for charging devices.

“Now that I know it’s a charging station, I probably will [use it],” said Adrian Carter, communications major.

The Learning Plaza has received some negative feedback, as well as positive, before the new addition of seating and tables, were placed.

“It’s very bland, there’s not really anything there,” said Jordan Fountain, a communications major. “I mean it looks nice but that’s all it is.”

However, the project is not finished.

“[The Learning Plaza] is a work in progress,” Gusset said. “[For weather purposes we are going to have] some sort of wooden canopy that would stretch over the Learning Plaza.”

The plaza was made more for the purposes of nicer weather, not intended for use during rain or rough snow. 

Some of the new additions to the Learning Plaza, such as seating, were placed before November as expected.

There will also be a concrete wall about seven feet high with Kean University written across it on the side closer to the parking lot in order to give the Learning Plaza a sense of privacy, according to Gusset.

Gusset concluded that the intended goal is to make the Learning Plaza a social space and learning area whether it be for an outdoor class, club meetings, or even just to enjoy the outside.

“I’ve been here I think 30 years,” said Bailey Baker, associate communications professor.

“Willis Hall has always been a part of life here but I just think the learning plaza is just wonderful.”

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