The alcoves have been a part of the Shattuck Schoolhouse since 1921, and have served as a space where underclassmen can meet their peers and socialize. The alcoves’ location was convenient, only a short walk away from the learning center, Computer Street, and, best of all, the snack bar. They were a crucial part of class bonding and a hub for student connection. However, with the Shattuck renovation underway, this historic space is no longer accessible this year, and students are forced to relocate to other areas of the school.
The announcement of the renovation of Shattuck posed a major question for underclassmen: Where should they go? Luckily, the deans and faculty devised a solution to relocate the underclassmen to the Henderson Arts Center (HAC). However, living up to the reputation of the alcoves may not be possible. This wasn’t the only problem that would arise in the coming school year. The Henderson lobby, formerly a sanctuary for arts students and a go-to study space for much of the Nobles community, is now the “new alcoves,” pushing the original users out.
Not only do many original Henderson residents feel displaced, but the underclassmen do as well. Many reminisce about their time in the alcoves.
“I feel like, as a grade, we were closer in the alcoves, because it sort of forced us into a smaller space. But here, where it’s so open and there’s all these little tables around, it’s a lot harder to bond,” Ryder Carlson (Class III) said.
With no separation between freshmen and sophomores, the struggle of meeting new classmates has become a more significant issue. Additionally, one of the biggest complaints from both freshmen and sophomores is the heat in the lobby. With the glass windows, Henderson can easily turn into a sauna on a sunny day, driving many students out.
However, many students, including Carlson, expressed some benefits of being in Henderson.
“My favorite part of being there is that we’re close to Lawrence in the morning, and it doesn’t take a while to get there. Also, it’s really nice being near the music practice rooms, because we can just go play instruments,” he said. Henderson is also a much better place for studying because of its tables and chairs. “I like that there’s a lot of space where people can talk and work together,” Connor Callahan (Class IV) said.
This change in Henderson’s occupation has left many original residents feeling out of place when they spend time in the lobby.
“I used to see people I know all the time in Henderson. I don’t see them anymore, because now it’s all freshmen and sophomores,” Sam Johnson-Price (Class II) said.
With so many freshmen and sophomores occupying the lobby, many have opted to hang out in other spaces.
Mars Oliver-Martinez (Class II) said, “I kind of miss being able to choose where I get to sit in Henderson. Now I know I have to go to the faculty lounge or ask to go to a practice room upstairs because everywhere else is taken.”
In each grade, different people have found their niche on campus. Before the Shattuck renovation, some chose the alcoves, some chose the loft, some chose the library, and some chose Henderson. Students have always been able to find a home at Nobles, but this year, it seems that not everyone will have the luxury of that choice.
Although Henderson is no longer a tranquil, vacant space, it does seem to be the best possible alternative while the Shattuck renovation is underway. However, it remains unclear whether the past Henderson occupants will be able to reclaim their space in the fall or if the underclassmen will choose to permanently stay in the HAC lobby.
