The long-awaited renovation to the Olmsted Center is almost completed, with three new features to immediately show students returning to campus. When students walk in the doors, they will see a new mural in the Breezeway. This mural features the area around Drake’s campus, showcasing streets around Dogtown, Greek Life and West Village.

When Chief Administration Officer Venessa Macro took on this renovation project, she wanted to emphasize spaces where students could gather and socialize.

“We wanted a vibrant space for students to hang out that wasn’t as organization-focused or as quiet as [the Johansen Student Center] is intended to be,” Macro said. “This was going to be the more dynamic hangout space. We wanted to change the look and feel of the footprint of the first floor of Olmsted.”

There are four major areas of change on the first floor of Olmsted. The first is a new lounge area gifted by Board of Trustees member Joe Aiello and his wife, Leslie. In this new area, blue couches with orange accents sit below geometric light fixtures where students can socialize, work comfortably. As a Drake alumna, the lounge space is Macro’s favorite addition.

“I would have hung out on that sofa for sure,” Macro said. “I think the comfort seating is something that [Olmsted] lacked before, especially on this level.”

The new lounge area is tucked in the corner of Starbucks, where the Office of Student Life was once located.

“I understand we had a need for the offices there at one time,” Macro said. “We were trying to fulfill a function, but this, I think, is how this building is supposed to be used. It feels more consistent with the architect’s intent.”

Students returning to Olmsted after the break agree with Macro.

“I think that it’s a better usage of space than it was previously,” said Nicole Gilkey, a sophomore studying neuroscience and biochemistry. “It seemed like [there were] offices that people never really entered or exited, and now it’s like actually a space for students to utilize.”

Construction Manager Rob Ebel believes the completed lounge area will contrast the buzzing environment of the neighboring Starbucks. The living room allows the building to “breathe,” he said.

“Having kind of like a separate kind of lounge area here — I like how it’s turned out. I really do,” Ebel said. “To quote my boss, [the first floor] was kind of closed off. Had some offices. It was kind of dark. You really didn’t see it. But now, from the corridors here, the seating area, you kind of have the outsides brought in. There’s light.”

Working on the new lounge space was personal to Ebel.

“My 17-year-old son, he’s my oldest, he’s looking at coming to Drake next fall,” Ebel said. “And it is to be able to be a little part of that and to show the things we’re doing… it’s not for us, it’s not for Drake. It’s for the students, right?”

In October, construction will finish on a new convenience store called “DRAKE On the Go.” Students will swipe their IDs or bank cards when entering, select their merchandise and walk out the door without having to interact with a cashier.

“It’ll automatically know what you picked off the shelf, much like we see at airports across the country,” Macro said. “That was actually made possible through our dining contract with Sodexo, and they brought that idea to us. And that was a little secret we’ve kind of been keeping.”

DRAKE On the Go will be located on the opposite side of the lounge area. Students can download the Everyday App to link their ID and personal banking cards to use this new convenience store. Macro says the C-Store will slowly become more vending-centric with DRAKE On the Go becoming the main on-campus convenience store.

“I think it’s really cool and futuristic, almost. It’s really cool that we get something that cutting-edge here at Drake,” said Caeden Canuso, a sophomore studying conservation science and business management.

The third addition will be a host space for admissions tours, located by The Bulldog Shop. The space will have new Griff-featured graphics on the walls and feel more welcoming, according to Macro. The Bulldog Shop was also renovated, adding improvements in lighting, flooring and new fixtures.

Some offices that were once in Olmsted moved to the Johansen Student Center, including all the Student Life and Student Services offices. The Office of Events will still work in Olmsted. 

Macro is an Iowa native who frequently visited Olmsted as a high schooler. She says this building was a part of her before she ever came to Drake.

“It’s really cool to see it transform in this way and to open up,” Macro said. “You know, it always felt a little bit closed before, so it feels open. I came here as a law student. It was a little bit different in the early ’90s. I took the bar exam, actually, on the second floor here. As an employee, I get the chance to touch this part of it and have it be really an active space for students. So for me, it has a little bit of a special meaning.”

Ebel said even when things are hard in the construction phase, the reaction of students makes it all worth it.

“Whenever I’m the most tired, and we’re cleaning and we’re demobilizing, getting things turned back on, I’ll see parents dropping their kids off at school for the first time,” Ebel said. “I’ll see students enjoying the renovation here, like the living room and the spaces and everything else. And that’s… It’s a pretty good gig — to be a small part of that, it’s great.”

Ebel said his biggest client isn’t the University, but the students.

“I’m proud of all the projects we get to work on. I really am,” Ebel said. “The team I get to work with, both facilities, design teams, contractors, all the groups, our focus remains on, what can we do for the students? That’s our client. The kids coming in for the first time. It’s a great place to be.”

Sadie Jones contributed to reporting.

Editor’s Note: In an earlier version of this article, Chief Administration Officer Venessa Macro’s name was spelled incorrectly. That error has been resolved as of 10:42 a.m. on Aug. 28.