BMCC Receives $500,000 from J.P. Morgan Chase for Student Lounge
July 10, 2002
Borough of Manhattan Community College recently received $500,000 from J.P. Morgan Chase to transform a little used outdoor space into a glass-covered atrium housing a student lounge. The year-round structure would enclose some 4,800 square feet of space adjoining an area next to what was the student cafeteria.
On June 20, Frederick Hill, senior vice president of Marketing and Communications at J.P. Morgan Chase, and his colleagues Gregory King and Martha Graham visited BMCC to present the check to BMCC President Antonio Pérez. The presentation took place adjacent to the outdoor patio, which will become the new student lounge and study area.
“The gift from J.P. Morgan Chase will help us significantly expand the social seating available to our students,” said BMCC President Antonio Pérez.
The students lost most of their cafeteria and student lounge after September 11 when BMCC lost a building at 30 West Broadway. To accommodate displaced classes, the college transformed all of its student lounge, congregational space, meeting space, and more than three-quarters of the student cafeteria into classroom space.
The gift from J. P. Morgan Chase is a big boost to BMCC’s fundraising efforts to create a glass atrium around a patio on the second floor, known as the Art Court. The Student Government Association began to move a number of its activities to the outdoor patio this past year, as long as the weather permitted. Once the area is enclosed as an atrium, the students will be able to hold activities there year round.
“We borrowed space from the students to convert into classrooms this past year,” said Scott Anderson, vice president for administration and planning. “Now we will be able to give students some new space to make up in part for what they lost.”
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