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After more than forty years as an elementary school, East Lansing Public Schools decided to allow Spartan Village School to revert back to Michigan State University in 2003. There has been an ongoing need for a community center in Spartan Village, and a survey of University Apartment residents supported the renovation of Spartan Village School for this purpose. The building houses a postal service station, a fitness center, study/meeting rooms, and offices for University Housing Administration, University Apartments, Residence Life and a community police office.
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October 12 |
Now that the building is open and very much in use, this will be the last report on the Community Center. |
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September 28 |
Furniture, equipment, and supplies finally arrived, University Housing Assignments Office, Maintenance Shops, and Residence Life moved into their new spaces in the building, and the Center opened for business on Monday, September 24 (photo below, right). Stockhandler Cindy Johnson is shown unpacking one of the many boxes for Maintenance Shops (photo below, center). Just a few items are left to be done, including some missing furniture, and some unpacked boxes. Close to three dozen old file cabinets were given a new lease on life by being electrostatically painted the same color as the new file cabinets (photo below, left). Not only did this save money, but environmentally, it was a smart idea. The paint process uses less paint, pollutes surrounding air and areas less, and recycles good quality items instead of disposing of them in landfills. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – in action!
Reservations are already flooding in for the various community spaces available, including community rooms, study areas, and a gymnasium. Maintenance Supervisor Scott Pierpont says there are nearly 500 bookings already recorded, including Tae Kwon Do, Indoor Soccer, Belly Dancing, Salsa Dancing and Yoga classes, as well as student organizations and community groups. The fitness center is open 8am–11pm, and people are already utilizing the building’s spaces well into the evenings. The Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Event are scheduled for Friday, October 5, from 4-6pm. There will be a barbecue on the back patio and tours of the facility. Stop by and get a look at this great new community center for University Apartments. |
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September 7 |
 Floors have been cleaned and waxed (photo above), and the building awaits furniture at this point. In the kitchen area, new appliances are ready to be installed (photos below). University Housing Assignments Office is planning their move in two weeks, on September 21, and furniture is due shortly before. The mailroom is now complete (photo below, right). The next progress report here will be the same day that Housing is moving, so we’ll have photos of the big move – stop back then and visit.  |
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August 24 |
  Move-in day for the University Housing Assignments Office is only a few weeks away, and the building is nearly ready. Furniture is expected just prior to move-in. However, exercise equipment has begun arriving in the Fitness Center (photos above), and mailboxes are being installed presently (photo, right). Residents will no longer have to go to the East Lansing Post Office to pick up packages, as they did in the past. This is a service they will enjoy at the new Community Center. Over the next few weeks, we’ll see this building come alive with the constant flow of staff, students and their families. Stay tuned. |
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August 10 |
  The building is awaiting its future residents. Most scheduled renovation work has been completed. Security systems are currently being installed (photos, left & right). University Housing Assignments Offices are scheduled to move their offices in September. Other groups will follow. |
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July 27 |
 In the past month, almost all evidence of construction and renovation activity has disappeared from both outside and inside the former school. The roof is finished, new concrete walkways are finished, and exterior grading and hydroseeding has been done (photo below). New sidewalk and a metal structure mark the newly renovated front entrance (photo above, left). Inside, the building has been painted, carpeted in some areas, and cleaned throughout. Furniture is beginning to arrive (photo above, right), with much more expected in the weeks to come.  |
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| June 15 |
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June 1 |
 Some evidence of the former elementary school still remains (photo above, left), but this will soon be gone as rooms are renovated into office spaces, community areas, fitness center and more. Workers are still working on the roof, making repairs and applying tar. Behind the building, concrete work is being done on curbs and sidewalks, preparing the parking lot (photo below). Inside, painting continues, as well as work on electrical systems and lighting (photo above, right).  |
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May 23 |
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Division of Residential and Hospitality Services | Michigan State University © 2009 - All Rights Reserved |
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The Center held its Grand Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Friday, October 5. Manager Adam Koivisto was joined by University Housing Associate Directors Karen Corley and Fred Kayne, University Housing Assignments Manager Beth Daust, and members of the Residence Life staff (photo above, left) for the ribbon cutting. The building was open for tours, refreshments were served (photo above, right), and many residents and H&FS staff members attended the event. Activities were held for both children and adults, including clown making balloon animals, face painting (photo, right), basketball in the gym, and a DJ in the cafeteria/all purpose room. 
