Fr. Stephen and Professor Scott Sackett giving a talk.
Photo courtesy of Scott Sackett
BY CHRIS DOODY, NEWS EDITOR
The Access and Belonging Advocacy Group is working alongside St. Bonaventure University in the remodeling of the Murphy Professional Building to ensure it’s an inclusive space.
“ABAG is dedicated to making the Jandoli School, and by extension St. Bonaventure University, a welcoming place for everyone,” said Scott Sackett, a lecturer in the school of communications.
The renovation will be up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
“The renovation of the Murphy Professional Building will be executed in three phases, and when completed, the state-of-the-art facilities will meet the ADA Standards for Accessible Design,” said Sackett. “This includes accessible routes, wide doorways and corridors, accessible parking, ramps, elevators, and communication elements.”
Sackett said ABAG hopes to add rooms specialized to certain needs.
“ABAG has also proposed gender-neutral washrooms, a sensory room for individuals with sensory processing disorders, disabilities, or cognitive conditions, and a lactation room to support breastfeeding parents,” said Sackett.
Other rooms will be added with the construction catering towards clubs and classes.
“There will be many new spaces in the expanded and renovated Murphy Building, including a newsroom, radio station facility for WSBU 88.3 FM Buzz, new broadcast studios and control room, podcast studio, updated classrooms and offices, agency classroom, meeting rooms and gathering places,” said Chimbel.
The Jandoli School will cater to communications majors.
Each will be specific to the needs of that space and specifically designed for communications professionals, as opposed to the current building, which was a multi-use facility.
Chimbel said the renovated building will offer a more collaborative space for students.
The new spaces aim to enhance classes with specialty and collaborative areas.
Chimbel said the Dresser Auditorium will also be remodeled for better accessibility.
“The renovations will create physical spaces that will afford everyone greater accessibility,” said Sackett. “Our work in ABAG is continuous improvement, and we have opportunities now to enhance access and belonging in the Jandoli School.”
doodycd24@bonaventure.edu
