What a week! We’ve been testing the flexibility of our new spaces and finding that our innovative classrooms can transform from a lecture format, to group study, to a game arcade in less than 24 hours. The Frick Forum can be a quiet spot to study at certain hours while at other times, it can accommodate a crowd for lunch or a baseball game.

We had a great turnout for Pappy’s BBQ and Gooey Louie butter cakes in celebration of Olin’s 97th birthday. A long line of students, faculty, and staff snaked around the cafe and Atrium while waiting to enjoy lunch. According to the “4 Buildings. 1 Olin.” event planning staff, 400 birthday party guests were served.

Many (we counted 325), skipped the BBQ line to play air hockey or Donkey Kong, or to take a spin in a virtual Sega Daytona race car in the retro arcade temporarily located in the McGinnis Classroom.

You could hear the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat, and really taste the hot dogs and Cracker Jacks on Monday at the Cardinals’ season opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Fred Bird joined in the fun as more than 600 fans received red “4 Buildings. 1 Olin.” sunglasses for the occasion.

Looking forward to seeing lots of students at the Final Four watch party on Monday, April 7, starting at 7 p.m., in the Frick Forum.

The 21 new group study rooms in Knight and Bauer Halls are getting a good workout, too! Glad to see so many students enjoying the new buildings!

Where’s your favorite place to study so far in Knight Hall or Bauer Hall? Comment here or Tweet #OlinNow.

Images: Fredbird by Jerry Naunheim; Arcade by Whitney Curtis. Courtesy of WUSTL Photo Services.