Wow!
What’s the official name of the building now? The whole thing is a war memorial, so I’m not so sure about renaming it. It sounds like the primary space of Commons will be preserved–I’d have trouble supporting such an idea otherwise.
Sounds like the entire complex will be expanded and named the Schwarzman Center, but that there will be renovations to both Commons and Memorial Hall:
“The renovation will preserve and enhance the architectural beauty of the complex and Memorial Hall, where the names of Yale graduates who gave their lives in military conflicts from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam are inscribed.”
There are more details in the press write-up here: http://news.yale.edu/2015/05/11/150-million-gift-stephen-schwarzman-establish-first-its-kind-campus-center-yale-universit
I had three current students over the house yesterday, and they were not as enthusiastic. The essence: “great, I can’t eat there any more, and it won’t be finished until after I leave.”
The use of Commons has gradually declined over the years, and now it’s really only used for special events. It’s too bad–I liked eating there as a freshman.
I have trouble visualizing what they can do, at least above ground, without messing up structures that they really can’t mess up. I don’t see how they can do much with the rotunda. It’s a war memorial, with engraved names. Maybe there’s a lot of space underground that can be repurposed.
“The renovation will encompass the entire Commons building and large parts of Memorial Hall, including the under-utilized lower level of Commons, which was previously not accessible to students.”
As I look at some photos of the Memorial Rotunda, perhaps there is some space above where the actual memorial slabs are. Or is that space a vestibule for Woolsey Hall? I’m having trouble visualizing what there is of the Memorial Building that you could repurpose–other than what’s below ground, of course.
From a Bloomberg story
Schwarzman comes across really poorly in a story on Bloomberg News today. After all his success, does he really need to prove that when he was 18 he was slighted by the “other school” in Cambridge. He could do with a large dose of humility IMHO. I’m not sure I’d be excited to pass The Schwarzman Center every day.
Interesting @CHD2013 , I had a similar reaction to the article in the NYT. I almost began to count how often the word “I” appeared; it did seem to be all about him.
When I make a donation, orders of magnitude smaller than his, I feel a bit pumped, so perhaps I should cut him some slack. For the record, the word “I” appeared 3 times in the previous sentence 
It’s great to get such a large gift and I’m sure it will be great for future students (although as noted it won’t be done until current undergraduates have moved on).
From what I can tell it sounds like Commons will remain open for eating when the work is done - hopefully the construction won’t be too disruptive of that in the meantime.
Of course in theory there are lots of other things that could be done with that amount of money - such as funding 50 endowed professorships - but the university has to work with its donors on projects that motivate them to give.
I hope they install AC in Woolsey and make it accessible throughout.
Commons isn’t really open for eating now.
@Hunt - is Commons closed for meals now? I had lunch there 2-3 weeks ago but maybe things have changed since then.
No, you’re right–it appears that Commons still serves lunch only, five days a week.
Thanks, good to know that lunch is still available there.