2-6: Music, Art, Gathering Places and Gold Recognition
2. The Baby Grand
Music should be part of the life of the University Center, its supporters say — performed by musicians for special events or by that one student expressing themselves through music. And so, there’s the elegant baby grand tucked in a quiet corner on the University Center’s ground level. On closer look, the baby grand is a Yamaha Clavinova, and it is electric — built to last and endure — with weighted keys that sound and feel like a real piano, never needing to be tuned. If needed, it can be moved to other areas of the complex. But it is always at the UCC, for those who just want to play.
3. The Skybridge
This 70-foot-long space connects the UCC’s two residential towers above the building’s park-like plaza. The Skybridge is accessible to tower residents and their guests only and features two levels of flexible gathering spaces with floor-to-ceiling views of the Hudson River to the east and Stevens’ campus to the west. The upper level features glass-walled conference rooms that can be reserved for study sessions and student club meetings. Downstairs, comfortable furniture and large tables invite socialization and collaboration. A bonus? A ping pong table is located on the lower level if the mood for competition strikes.
4. “Home Plate” Mosaic
On the wall of The Cannon Café hangs a large, colorful map of the United States. The artwork was created by local artist and friend of Stevens, Joyce Zaorski Flinn, and is made from pieces of broken plates collected from all 50 states and with colorful historic references. Flinn and her husband, Eugene, previously owned three restaurants in Hoboken and have been strong supporters of the university. The title of the piece, “Home Plate,” is an homage not only to the materials used to create it, but also to Hoboken’s history as “the birthplace of baseball.” Flinn made the mosaic for Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette in 2014, and upon selling the restaurant, wished to donate it to Stevens in honor of her father, John Zaorski ’56.
5. Certified LEED Gold
Stevens’ University Center Complex is certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification is an internationally recognized standard for sustainable design and construction, signaling excellence in efficiency, responsible use of natural resources and enhanced quality of life for occupants and the surrounding community.
6. The Cannon Café and Store
Located on the ground floor of the Harries Residential Tower, the Cannon Café is an inviting place to grab a coffee or enjoy a milkshake or smoothie — a specific request from students during the building’s planning phase. Diners can also order treats like doughnuts, cupcakes and cakepops from the Ducks Sweet Shoppe menu.
A convenience store is also located in the café, stocked with basic items for residential students (think laundry detergent and other essentials). To eliminate lines and create a seamless shopping experience, plans are currently underway to install an automatic payment system in the store through Amazon Go — technology that detects which items are removed or returned to shelves, billing shoppers automatically for the items they take.