Opening next semester, the Diana Center will take its place as Barnard's new student center, replacing MacIntosh. As construction wraps up, Barnard students are growing more excited.

Freshmen Alex Eduque and Karen Baruch expressed their excitement.

"I heard that it's a really big student center that was patterned after Lerner and that it's going to be a really cool hang out place."

"I heard that it's going to be a center for all the extracurricular activities at Barnard and it's going to enrich our community."

The 70,000 square foot building promises to have plenty of space and resources for students to take advantage of.

"A black box theater, a cafe, piano practice rooms, club meeting rooms, programming space..." suggested senior Ashley Lannquist when asked about the resources that will be available.

And Vivian Taylor, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Community

Development suggested "More classes, more places to eat, more places to do activities."

Originally known as the Nexus, the Diana Center came to be after Diana Vagelos made a $15 million contribution to the new building. The architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi were careful to design the Diana so that it wouldn't block the sight lines between both sides of the campus. Construction of the building began in 2007, but plans for its establishment have been ongoing for much longer. With the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 3rd, the preparation for events celebrating the Diana's opening are well underway.

"It's going to be drumming and dancing and singing as we have a sort of finale to the opening of the building." said Vivian Taylor about the celebration of the opening of the center.

The Diana Center is a much anticipated addition to the Barnard campus and its presence is bound to have a positive effect on the community.

"Well I heard many wonderful things about its architecture like there's a green roof, and the color and the architecture is really amazing with the space that's available for the students. So I'm really excited for it to open." shared senior Lan