By Angelica Siordia
New Addition (Erin Hudson)
By Angelica Siordia
Finally, after years of construction and anticipation Riverside City College held a grand re-opening of the A.G. Paul Quadrangle.
March 14 brought people of all ages to the commencement of the renovated Quad.
Faculty, students and the community were among the people who came together for the celebration of the new Quad.
Among the guests who were included in the ceremony were Ronald Loveridge, mayor of the City of Riverside, and Ronald H. Conzonire, president of the Tournament of Roses Association.
For the start of the celebration, Gary Locke, director of the RCC Marching Tigers, led the marching band to the center of the Quad playing what was appropriate for the ceremony, “Celebration.”
Linda Lacy, interim president of RCC, opened the ceremony with a welcome speech “In 1922 the A.G. Paul Quadrangle was built for $100,000 and now after $23 million in renovations the Quad is complete.”
Among the changes that were made was the upgrade of the infrastructure and technology. In addition to the renovated Quad was the opening of the new art gallery and lecture hall.
The lecture hall had an aroma of a newly refurbished home and, while anyone was able to sit and enjoy the re-modeled room, a film was displayed on a large white panel of the lecture hall.
The film conveyed the many students who have walked the halls of the Quadrangle, from the 1920s to the present.
The new lecture hall has been constructed to a replica of a mini theater. Students will be able to sit in a theater room with reclining arm chairs and view their lectures in a wide stage.
The Quad officially opened in the fall semester of 2007, but due to some minor touches the lecture hall and art gallery still had to be completed. Therefore the art gallery returns to the quad with ceramics and art sculptures from art designer Don Reitz.
Every month the art gallery will display new art work; students will also be able to display their art in sculptures and ceramics at the end of each semester.
The art gallery will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and extended hours will be available on Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.
The ceremony came to an end with the cast of “Urinetown,” directed by Jodi Jullian, chair of RCC Theater Arts, singing the theater showcase of “Run Freedom Run.”
The celebration event also brought a surprising end that everyone was able to take home. The President of the Tournament of Roses Association, Ronald Conzonire announced, with a special flag presentation, that the RCC Marching Tigers will appear in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade.
“I have come a long way just to be here, the event was so special and the renovation is beautiful. The band is special and I loved the theater performance, I would watch it on Broadway,” Ronald said.
As the night drew near, people walked along the hallways of the quad expressing their amazement of the lecture hall and art gallery.
“I am proud of this institute, I love this college and the place to be,” Lacy said. “The community is here and we have all come together.”
The night came to a good end and after months of delays, clinging of hammers and the noise of machinery; the event brought together faculty, students, and the community to celebrate what finally has been completed, the A.G. Paul Quadrangle.
