The Revolution of CCNY Productivity: The Need for the Bubrow’s Activity Center (BAC)
Figure 1: Ai rendering of the proposed Bubrow’s Activity Center
April 1, 2024
The Build Guild:
Diego Guerrero
Kevin Wang
Mariam Ceesay
Animesh Nath
Introduction:
Have you ever felt bored, having nothing better to do other than rot in some corner of campus? Well, we have a solution for you: the new and improved Bubrow’s Activity Center (BAC). In every institutional hub, where students come to learn and achieve their career goals, students need an environment to socialize and relax as college work can get stressful, especially when they don’t have others to socialize with. Currently, in City College, we have a small student center: The Wingate Building. While it does contain a gym and a few multipurpose rooms to promote student productivity, it lacks the appeal to attract a large student body due to the cramped space and gloomy interior designs.
We surveyed 100 people on campus to deeply comprehend the daily habits of the average City College student. According to this survey, 68% of students live more than one hour away. As City College is a commuter school, many students only limit their visits to campus to classes and lectures. With the BAC, commuter students would have another initiative to go to our campus: leisure time and to destress with their peers. As one of our peers said in the survey: “An improved rec center with fun things goes a long way towards making longer days more bearable.” City College’s current campus doesn’t feel like a second home to many students, as most can’t find ways to spend their valuable time on campus. Another student mentioned that they would prefer to do something fun instead of studying, such as: “being able to play a small pick-up soccer game.” With the BAC, students would have more options to spend their spare time aside from napping and studying, as 72% of the survey suggested.
In one study, “The Benefits of Campus Recreation” by Scott A. Forrester from “NIRSA-Leaders in Collegiate Recreation”, researchers went in-depth about the benefits of participation in campus recreational centers. This survey gathered a sample of over 33,500 students from 38 universities across the United States. According to the study, 80% of the sample participated in campus recreation programs and activities at least once a week, with 90% of them spending at least 30 minutes per visit. Students participated mostly in cardiovascular training, weight lifting, and open recreation. It’s also noted that a huge amount of students were influenced by their colleges’ campus recreation centers and programs for the reason they attend and stay at their college. In this study, 68% of students chose to attend their current college because of their campus recreation center, and 74% reported that it is what influences them to stay there. This proves how recreational centers improve student retention rates, attract more students, and keep students interested in their college, by providing opportunities and promoting development. Student centers further promote health and wellness, getting students to stay fit and healthy. Many students further indicated how activities in their recreational centers provided them with beneficial skills applicable outside their college, such as time management, relationship development, and problem-solving. Through student centers, students can grow and become a better version of themselves to prepare for the real world awaiting them outside of their academia.
Another research conducted from “Purdue University” went into detail on the correlation of the use of student centers and academic performance. In their research, they found that students who often visited their colleges’ sports centers achieved higher GPAs. “More than 1,820 students who visit Purdue’s France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center at least 16 times a month earned a GPA of 3.10 or higher. The correlation between grades and gym use also is shown with moderate users. Students who used the gym at least seven times a month had an average GPA of 3.06”. This data shows the positive correlation between the student centers gym use and academic performance, suggesting to us that student centers can positively impact students academic outcomes. Furthermore, student centers also serve as a hub for socialization and student interactions. These centers give opportunities for students to connect, make friends and provide skills applicable outside college. Purdue University stated “This is a place where students learn to use physical activity to cope with stress. Being fit also is about getting the appropriate amount of sleep, and that is key to doing well in school. Our goals for success go beyond the classroom and are aimed at helping young people develop healthy habits for life.” By prioritizing student centers, students can build more confidence, socialize more, and acquire healthy habits for lifelong success.
Action Plan:
The Bubrow’s Activity Center would be at the heart of the City College campus, replacing the Wingate Building at Convent Avenue, between W 138th and W 139th Street. The building would have a total of four different floors, a basement and three above ground floors, each being 21,0125 square feet.
First Floor: As you walk in, you will be greeted by a food court on your left side, with a seating area on the right. As you walk further in, a billiards room and table tennis rooms will be at your disposal to play with friends when bored. Please refer Figure 7 in the Appendix for a visual representation of the lounge
Basement: For people who destress by being more active, the basement provides tons of ways to break a sweat. The BAC’s underground floor will allow students to swim in our 20 by 40 feet swimming pool on those hot days. Refer to Figure 8 in the Appendix for a visual representation of the basement swimming pool. Adjacent to the pool will be two jacuzzis for those who prefer warmer waters. The basement will also include one multi-purpose basketball court with hanging hoops. In these courts, we would be able to play basketball, soccer, and badminton with our storable nets. This floor will also include a locker and shower rooms for students to clean up after a good pool session. For a more laid back day, students can access our movie theater which would be playing movies, old and new, on a regular basis.
Second Floor: Our second floor will include additional recreation options for the students as it offers a 47’ by 38’ gym along with a wrestling room next to it. Refer to Figure 9 in the Appendix for a visual presentation of the gym. Rooms with yoga equipment would also be included for those who love to stretch after a tense day on campus. This floor will include 4 moderate sized rooms for clubs for their meetings and general use. The floor will also offer two staff rooms for those who would be in charge of maintaining the BAC. It also has basic necessities such as bathrooms, locker rooms and a janitor’s closet.
Third Floor: As you enter our third and final floor, two prayer rooms would be available to the left for people of religious backgrounds. In front of these prayer rooms you would find a computer room with functioning printers for aid students in completing their day to day assignments. Refer to Figure 10 in the Appendix for the visual representation of the computer room. To the right of the elevator, you will find two conference rooms which would be exclusive for student government as they are required to have meetings often. At the other end of the floor, students will find six general studying/quiet rooms for those who want to step away from all the chaos of the other floors. This floor would be great for those who prefer privacy for work and relaxation as many people from the survey requested.
Schedule:
In order to bring a new life to the City College campus, many procedures must be taken to accomplish this. Refer to the Gannt chart below for this procedure.
Figure 11: Gantt Chart
Cost and Benefits:
Cost: The entirety of the new Bubrow’s Activity Center will come at a cost of $33,954,400. Every dollar will be worth it as it contributes to every students’ success.
| Items | Cost of Items | Total |
| Cost of Building (84,100 square feet) | $400 per square feet | $33,640,000 |
| Pool (800 square feet) | $170 per square feet | $136,000 |
| 2 Jacuzzis | $20,000 | $20,000 |
| Theater Room(600 square feet) | $140 per square feet | $84,000 |
| Basketball Court (4,700 square feet) | $12.00 per square feet | $56,400 |
| 6 Hoops | $18000 | $18,000 |
| Total Cost | $33,954,400 |
Figure 12: Cost Chart
Benefits: This building would include many options for entertainment and leisure for students, not just for relaxation but to also promote academic success. Our pool located in the basement would help promote cardiovascular activity, therefore improving the wellbeing of each student. Our theater room would showcase multitudes of genres, acknowledging students on the different types of art forms and enhancing their creative expression. Our first floor offers a wide place for students to interact and get to know each other. This floor would be great for networking and improving social skills. Our second floor features additional recreational centers such as a gym, wrestling and yoga rooms. This floor caters to the exercise needs of many students, from lifting weights and building muscle, to meditating and finding peace within. Our third and final floor would be the center of productivity as it offers multiple study rooms and a gigantic room for printing. It will also allow religious folks to attend to their praying needs.
Team:
Diego Guerrero is currently a freshman in City College, studying electrical engineering. Diego got his passion for electrical engineering back at his high school where he was taught the basic fundamentals of electricity. Now, he is a fellow at the CIPASS fellowship where he is defining his hard skills such as manufacturing, rapid prototyping, and assembling circuits with Arduinos. On the side, he is a brand associate at Old Navy, where his work has taught him the importance of time management, communication and multitasking. In his spare time, he enjoys biking down Astoria Park and playing video games. One day Diego hopes to put his engineering skills to work towards a greener future.
Kevin Wang is a freshman at City College . While currently undecided on his major, Kevin is drawn toward the fields of computer and electrical engineering. He believes these fields align with his passion for problem-solving and technology, and wishes to gain hands-on experience in the field. Outside of academics, he’s gained valuable experience in the restaurant industry and has contributed over 60 hours in community service. Kevin is eager to explore his interests and learn about the things that’ll shape his future.
Mariam Ceesay is a freshman at the City College of New York studying Biotechnology. Her love for Biology/biotechnology started in high school where she took a Forensic Science class in her senior year. This class taught her how to analyze DNA such as blood, hair, etc. Mariam’s love for studying DNA is what led to her wanting to major in biotechnology. Mariam also worked for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) during July-August of 2023, where she had to do multiple coding assignments for five hours a day; which improved her time management skills. In the future, Mariam would like to use her biotechnology skills she has gained to analyze DNA for criminal investigations.
Animesh Nath is currently a Freshman Undergraduate, majoring in Computer Science. He was born in Bangladesh and moved to New York when he was three years old. He is proficient in English and Bangla. On the weekends, he tutors middle schoolers mathematics, and in his free time, he produces games for fun. He is a proactive researcher who searches for methods of coding and learns ways to develop websites and apps to help create user-friendly learning platforms to help his students learn better.
Conclusion:
Through research and being students ourselves, it is evident that we students need a place and community to keep ourselves healthy, productive, and mentally stable on campus. Aside from the rigorous classwork and busy schedules in our lives, we also have plenty of spare time being wasted due to the lack of space and resources that can be made up with the BAC. Although the costs may seem high, it will be worth the investment as more energetic and productive youth will rise from City College and bring more opportunities to this school. So, why rot in some corner now when you could be rejuvenating that hot blood of youth in your bodies in the Bubrow’s Activity Center? If there is an activity center more students can socialize and build stronger connections and build a better community that supports itself to success through this welcoming and relaxing environment. If Bubrow’s activity center isn’t developed then more students will continue to rot in some corner of campus waiting for their next lecture knowing that they could have made new friends or done something to better themself.
References
BigRentz. (2023, October 6). 2023 commercial construction cost per square foot in the US. https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/commercial-construction-cost-per-square-foot#:~:text=The%20average%20costs%20for%20university,foot
How much does an inground pool cost? (2024). HomeGuide. (n.d.). https://homeguide.com/costs/inground-pool-cost
Forrester, S. (2014). The benefits of campus recreation. Corvallis, OR: NIRSA.
Neubert, A. P. (2013). College students working out at campus gyms get better grades. Purdue Today.
Simms, D. (2024, January 4). 2024 indoor basketball court cost. Angi. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-indoor-basketball-court-cost.htm
Appendix
Link to Appendix: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DlY82DFuN2LpW1JMr0KTc3DtpIsYtRpmY7xEUyCHhKw/edit
