Millennium Hall kicked off its opening ceremony for its new gym and computer lab on Sept. 9 with free Chick-fil-A and the cutting of a red ribbon with novelty large scissors.
"We are overjoyed to announce the grand opening of our computer labs at Millennium Hall, Harris Hall and Tubman House, representing a major milestone in our ongoing dedication to enriching the living and learning experience for our exceptional community," said Mi'Chaia Lamar, Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM) Assistant Director of Housing Operations at Towson University.
COCM hosted two ribbon cutting ceremonies in Millennium. One ceremony celebrated the opening of the new gym, located on the fifth floor, and one for the computer lab, located on the third floor of the building.
Millennium wasn't the only building celebrating a new computer lab. COCM built computer labs for each of their properties, including Harris Hall and Tubman House, all buildings have a computer lab on their third floors.
Millennium Hall's computer lab is equipped with Mac and Windows desktop computers and a free printing station, and will be closed from 4am to 8am for a data wipe of the computers and system updates, according to Lamar. The gym, however, will be open 24/7.
The gym includes six treadmills, three ellipticals and two exercise bikes.
Both the fitness center and the computer labs have been in the works for about two years, according to Rafael "Raf" Cordwell, COCM Director of University Affiliated Housing at Towson University, and the idea was brought to him by Facilities Director Chenal "Al" Alford.
"When I became director, he [Alford] had tons of ideas of how to increase retention in the building and he talked about having a fitness center," Cordwell said. "The original plan really, turn the MPR [Multi-Purpose Room] into a gym."
Cordwell said the project manifested itself from being five different fitness centers, one on each floor's study lounge, to one central gym off of the elevator lounge on the fifth floor, after the MPR was no longer considered an option.
"I like the sentiment of having the ability to go to a computer lab in my own building," said Millennium Hall resident and senior Delaney Curry. "I also did check out the fitness center a couple days ago and I think it's really cool that it's, while it is small, it is an area that's kind of accessible to anyone in the building, it's not a super long hike to where the usual gym is."
According to Cordwell, the cost of each project individually was roughly $80,000. Cordwell said that the additions to the buildings will not cause an increase in rent.