The Station at Mill Point, the former Elon Homes & Schools for Children, and the Francis Center were all open Monday for employees to visit.
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Elon University faculty and staff visited new facilities on campus Monday following official ceremonies for the start of the academic year, which included the awarding of three Elon Medallions and the opening of school address by Elon President Leo M. Lambert.
The Gerald L. Francis Center, the former campus of Elon Homes for Children, and The Station at Mill Point residential neighborhood were opened for the community, with the largest crowds visiting The Station. The residential neighborhood featuring 24 townhouse-style apartment buildings will be home to 324 juniors and seniors this year.
The Station at Mill Point includes a commons building with study rooms, a fitness facility and office space for Student Professional Development Center staff. There is also an outdoor pool and recreation facilities, an amphitheatre, gardens and other outdoor gathering places.
The Francis Center houses the doctor of physical therapy program and the new master of physician assistant studies program, which will enroll its first class in January 2013. The building also provides new labs for the exercise science undergraduate program. The facility, only half of which has been renovated to date, is named to honor Executive Vice President Gerry Francis, who has dedicated his entire academic career to Elon.
Elon parents Don and Ellen Scott earlier this summer made a $750,000 gift to the university as the lead contribution for expanding the Department of Performing Arts with new theatrical and recital space in the Francis Center. The building opened last January.
This summer Elon purchased the Snyder Campus of Elon Homes and Schools for Children, located adjacent to the university’s South Campus. The five buildings purchased by the university include a large central facility formerly known as the Barringer Building and later used for The Elon School, a private high school that opened in 2007. There is also a residential building, gymnasium, two additional classroom/office buildings and a soccer field.
Over the next year, Elon will conduct a planning process to determine how the facilities and land will be utilized to support the university’s core academic mission and support operations.