GCU News Bureau
It's not just a new year. It's a new decade.
So why not kick things off right with the debut of a new building at a prominent spot on the Promenade? The new Student Advising Services Building, nestled between the Student Life and College of Humanities and Social Sciences buildings, will make its debut at the start of the spring semester.
It is just one of the many things the campus community can look forward to as 2020 gets set to launch.
At a whopping five stories high -- the most stories of any academic building at Grand Canyon University -- the new Student Advising Services Building is the tallest post-tension structure on campus (post-tension is a technique for reinforcing concrete, and we hear it’s the in-style way of building high rises).
It stands out not only for its height but for its design by suoLL architect Caroline Lobo, whose aesthetic, combined with the construction expertise of Pono Construction and a dedicated team of subcontractors, has shaped many of the buildings on campus.
There’s the huge circle window overlooking the Promenade. Circles are prominent in the building (note the circular exit signs), as are the many windows to allow sunlight to stream in, some variations in color (it’s not just GCU purple in there), neat ceilings with circular design patterns, some cool lighting elements and even a second floor “floating” glass conference room that protrudes over the edge of the floor.
The most high-profile department in the new building is the Antelope Reception Center (ARC), which has moved from its spot in GCU Arena. That means the SAS will be where many prospective students will have their first significant contact with GCU and will get their first impression of the University. They’ll meet with counselors, wait to take a campus tour and more.
The building also will house Enrollment as well as College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty along with some classrooms on the upper floors.
Beyond an impressive new building, students will appreciate the addition to campus of the Herd Stop, which will be a pumped-up version of The Grid. Located on the ground floor of the new Antelope Apartments (Building 52) just west of 29th Avenue, it’s a 5,000-square-foot grocery store that will provide a more convenient place for students to grab a few groceries. The highlight is a nearly 1,000-square-foot produce section, which means more healthy eating for students.
Look for a story soon in GCU Today with more details about the Herd Stop. It will welcome students from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with several vendors on hand.
Outside of those new additions to campus, the 2020 calendar is packed with event after event. Here are a few highlights (for a full calendar of events, click here):
Campus culture
It wouldn’t be a spring semester at GCU without the Canyon Activities Board-sponsored Mr. GCU. Plucky student competitors put together lip sync and dance routines, along with videos, to try to earn the title. Thousands attend the event, vote and cheer at GCU Arena. This year’s competition is 8-10 p.m. March 5.
Students who just can’t wait that long for a bit of campus entertainment might consider investing a little time in Casino Night (8-10 p.m. Jan. 14, GCU Arena). Ladies and gents dress up in hats and bow ties, delve into casino-style games and partake of a few refreshments.
Academics
GCU touts its share of big academic events, such as Forensic Science Day, slated for March 10 this year, and Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology Day.
Expect something new on the schedule this year: Engineering Week, with events spanning a little more than a week, from Feb. 10-21. It includes a webinar series that starts at 5:30 p.m. daily from Feb. 10-14. Each webinar will feature a 30-minute interview with expert members of GCU’s Engineering Department and will include a live Q&A session. The series will be followed by an engineering design competition Feb. 17-21. Teams of various academic levels will be designing bridges.
Sports
The campus community always looks forward to the WAC Basketball Tournament.
The GCU men's team made it to the conference title game in 2018 against New Mexico State, the first season GCU was playoff eligible. The Lopes did the same in 2019, again playing in the conference title game against the Aggies.
The tournament, which includes women's and men's competition, is scheduled for March 11-14 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Performing arts
Just call it a theatrical storm when the College of Fine Arts and Production unleashes Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” (Feb. 7-9 and Feb. 14-16, Ethington Theatre). The production will kick off the spring 2020 season of plays. The sinister play centers around a magical storm that leaves passengers shipwrecked on a tropical island. What ensues is a budding romance, a murderous plot and magical spirits. Classic Shakespeare.
It will be followed by the comedy “The Drowsy Chaperone” (March 20-22 and March 27-29, Ethington), which will wrap up the 2019-20 play season.
The Dance Department, too, will enchant with the 10th anniversary of its Spring Dance Concert. Dances will be focused on the theme “Moving Forward” (April 17-19, Ethington).
Don't forget the Cantalopes. The improv group will unleash its full improv power this semester, beginning with Cantalope auditions (9:15 p.m. Jan. 10, Room 100, COFAP Building). Auditions will be followed by the first Cantalopes performance on Jan. 17 (9:30 p.m., Thunderground).
The GCU Film Festival is on its way, too (Feb. 28), preceded by a screening of the documentary “Poverty Inc." (5:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Ethington Theatre).
On the music front, there's the Feb. 13 concert by the Canyon Chorale and Canyon Symphony (7-9 p.m., First Southern Baptist Church) featuring Tuvayhun’s “Beatitudes for a Wounded World.” The popular Broadway, Opera and Beyond concert follows in March (7-9 p.m. March 12, First Southern Baptist Church, and 7-9 p.m. March 13 at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church).
Business
Once again, the neurons will be firing for TEDxGCU, in which engaging speakers explore a variety of topics with the audience. Six speakers and two performers will take the stage. What’s impressive about the University’s version of TEDx is that it’s entirely student produced. The preview event will be in Thunderground in a few weeks (7 p.m. Jan 21), with the main event slated for Feb. 21 in Ethington Theatre.
Another big business event to take note of is the Canyon Challenge, slated for March 6. This is the entrepreneurial competition for students and alumni.
Two other big dates to keep in mind:
- HOMECOMING. It’s coming up March 6-7, with the GCU Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony slated for March 6.
- COMMENCEMENT. This year, for the first time, commencement will be split over two weekends. Commencement for traditional students is April 24, followed almost a week later by the ceremony for nontraditional (online) students April 30-May 1. Three ceremonies are slated for all of those days, at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
