Posted on Nov. 25: Mary E. Keyes opening marks a new residence tradition
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mary_keyes_2.jpg” caption=”Mary Keyes residents”]A luxury suite with air conditioning, two washrooms and a stone's throw from fine dining isn't the typical first home-away-from-home experience for most students. But the 280 residents 168 of them first-year who secured a room in McMaster's new Mary E. Keyes residence this fall are discovering that the typical campus residence experience is undergoing some changes.
Today the residence officially opens, with speeches from Cathie Miller, director of Housing & Conference Services, Peter George, President and Vice-Chancellor, and members of the Keyes family.
The residence is the namesake of the late Keyes, who dedicated 38 years of service to the University in faculty and administrative roles, putting students' interests and concerns at the forefront of any initiative.
“Dr. Keyes initiated the vision for this new student residence,” says George. “Reflecting her respect for the needs of the students, she insisted that the building needed to provide an environment that would be comfortable for living, learning, working and socializing. I am proud that her vision has become a reality.”
Students living in the residence experience the latest comforts in apartment-style residences. There are no close-quartered roommates to adjust to, since students live in suites with four single bedrooms, and share two washrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. They have the option of cooking meals in their kitchen complete with stovetop or purchasing food from campus cafeterias. They can study quietly in the privacy of their rooms, or join friends in the building's common rooms for socializing.
Even the residence's cafeteria has a new look and feel. Tubs of mashed potatoes and frozen peas have been put on the back burner for sleek, more exotic on-campus cuisine at the new East Meets West Bistro that marks the next step in the trend toward tastier, healthier eating.
The 8,000-square-foot dining facility, located on the main floor, offers a full lunch and dinner menu with tastes from Asian, Greek, and other types of international cuisine. Seafood, as well as gourmet pizza from the kitchen's wood-burning pizza oven also figure highly on the menus.
First-year students and Keyes suite-mates Kristina Chandler, Kelly Collins, and Elyse Stangl say now that the semester is well underway they're appreciating the true luxury of their building.
“I think we're really thankful that we have these beautiful, clean apartments that no one has ever used before,” says Collins. “It's a really positive place and there's lots of energy.”
This afternoon's ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a reception in East Meets West Bistro.
Photo captions: Top: Mary Keyes residents, left to right, Jen Coombs, Kristina Chandler and Kelly Collins in their living room at Keyes. Below, a front view of the new residence. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay
