Welcome to Spring 2016 in the School of Graduate Studies! The term has begun with a NYC blizzard and the excitement promises to continue thanks to a number of major projects inside FIT. First among them is the renovation of the main suite of SGS classrooms, offices, and laboratories, which is located on the 6th Floor of the Goodman Center. Over the past three decades, as we’ve expanded and intensified our graduate programs, we’ve outgrown these spaces and have struggled to keep technology and specialized lab equipment up to date in a not-always-conducive environment. That ends starting now. During the fall 2015 semester, a team of experts from around the College worked with architects from the firm Fletcher Thomson to design a renovation that will–for the first time–provide purpose-built space for our faculty and students. The new SGS suite will include two state-of-the-art classrooms geared for advanced students, a seminar room for smaller course meetings, and a huddle room for student project work and innovation sessions. The Fashion and Textiles department will have a complete upgrade of its conservation lab and student workroom, and will finally have dedicated storage designed to house the Study Collection, mannequins, and other objects and sensitive materials.
Our neighbor on the 6th Floor of the Goodman Center, the Gladys Marcus Library, has given over some of its turf to ensure that we will have great new space looking out over 7th Avenue–so for the first time, natural light will shine on SGS! A gleaming Graduate Student Commons will occupy this area, complete with a work center, lockers, and spaces conducive to informal meetings, study sessions, and social gatherings. An adjacent pantry will make it easy for students and faculty to grab a snack or a meal while they spend time in the Commons, and there will be plenty of coffee to fuel everything going on inside. The glass walls enclosing the Commons will allow light to filter down the hallway, which will be activated with monitors and otherwise set up as an exhibition space for student and faculty work.
Right now, Goodman 6 is an early-phase construction zone, vacated by students and faculty, still awaiting demolition. Much of our SGS community has relocated for project’s duration, so classes this semester are scattered across campus and some faculty have moved to new offices. There’s energy and excitement about all of this, especially since the project schedule promises to have us in the renovated SGS suite for the start of the Fall 2016 semester. Watch this space for updates and photos as it all progresses!
Finally, this semester brings the launch of this blog–I’m very pleased to introduce it and eager to have a direct way of being in touch. There’s always something going on in SGS, so please tune in often. And if you’re interested in the links between music and fashion, I invite you to visit my more specialized blog, Sound+Style, which will be off the ground shortly–I can also be accessed from the SGS blog page.