By: Deborah Johnson Wood
The new hotspot at Muskegon's Baker College—the $3 million, 15,000-square-foot Baker Recreation and Informational Center—will open its doors on September 24. The center, called "the bric," is the central building among 175 student townhouses just a mile west of campus at 1000 Marquette Avenue.
Computer labs, a game room with Sony PlayStations, air hockey and a pool table, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a flat screen TV in nearly every room are just some of the amenities students can enjoy at no cost.
"We're building it as a value-added program," says Rick Amidon, college president. "We're really excited for it to open, and the neighborhood has been very positive and supportive."
The bric has laundry facilities, quiet study areas, and a multi-purpose room with a projection TV and a small kitchen. A coffee shop will serve food and other beverages.
Outdoors, a patio facing busy Marquette Avenue will be decked out with grills and casual seating for cookouts and other occasions.
"The patio has an urban feel," Amidon says. "By facing the street it connects students with the community, and students going by can see there are activities in the building."
Baker College expects about 5,100 students this year. Some 700 of them live in the nearby townhouses, on campus, and in the area. The bric is open to all students.
Source: Rick Amidon, Baker College
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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