STUD BUDS: Ushna Arshid, Maryhelen De Simone, Radhyyah Hossain, Jinjie Liao

Date: 11/4/2019

Stress Reliever: The Marshak Study Hall

Introduction:

          Have you ever come into a library to study for your huge exam tomorrow only to find it noisy, crowded, and uncomfortable? Well, that is exactly the problem we have at The City College of New York. Our group, STUD BUDS, believe that the libraries on campus do not have enough quiet space to accommodate all students wishing to study in the library. Due to this, the library has become noisy and overcrowded. 

To get a better estimate of how many people face this problem, we surveyed 100 students to get their opinions on a new study area. Based on the survey, 68% of people who took the survey thought that there is not enough space in the library to study; and, 65% of people feel uncomfortable studying in the library in general. Many people commented that the library is dirty, does not have working outlets, and is brimming with people who take up seats and rooms for sleeping or hanging out. When asked if students like the idea of a new area to study, 99% of people agreed and said that they liked the idea. To solve all these issues, our group proposed to make a new study area in the tennis court of Marshak building. Essentially a new floor, with new and comfortable cubicles and tables with solar panel roofs. This would solve the overcrowdedness, uncomfortableness, and power problems that are present in the current libraries. 

In order to get a better understanding of our project, we researched Hunter College to see what their libraries are like. According to a student at Hunter College, Hunter’s library has nine floors, two of which are quiet study floors. Compared to City College, Hunter has working outlets in cubicles and on the wall with clean and comfortable furniture. So, our aim is to provide an environment where students would have much more time to catch up on assignments and study without experiencing any difficulty. 

 

Action Plan:

We assumed the Marshak yard can support a new structure. We will perform these four tasks to help determine the best course of action for building a one-floor dome structure with a balcony on the top of the Marshak yard with electricity and WiFi supported by solar panels. 

Task 1. Determine is it necessary to have a new study hall 

Radhyyah will create a five-question Google survey. It is a QR code with a link, with five questions. We are going to ask 100 students in our college, who have used the school library, to fill out the form. Each of us will find 25 random students in the school and ask them to do the survey. After 100 surveys completed, we will analyze the data, which did present that we need a space for students to do independent and group study.

Task 2. Acquire a basic understanding of the space we are going to use

We will go to the Marshak yard and measure the space for a better view. The space that we are going to use is 10,002.22 square feet. We will also take some space around the building as the outdoor study space. This place receives a good amount of sunlight which will help with the power from solar panels.  In an approximation, the new study hall might allow accommodating up to 2,000 students, without the outside study space of the building.

Task 3. Acquire a basic understanding of the materials and cost

Maryhelen is going to research the possible materials that we are going to use to build the study hall. We consider the main construct is steel frames with mirror structure. The total cost with the cost of the tables and chairs, floor and wall and other decorations will be up to 2 million budget.

Task 4. Acquire the sponsors or investors that can support this project

To get enough money to reach our goal, we researched online investors that might support us. However, we are still looking forward to getting the investors from businesses, corporations, and any companies that are looking for successful graduate students to hire and promote in the City College of New York.

 

Costs and Benefits:  

          On a 2 million dollar budget, our proposal can successfully construct the dome-like building while also making it completely sturdy and re-enforced. The materials that will be used in order to construct the buildings will be steel frames, reinforced by a concrete base to level the area and one-way mirrors that will cover the entire structure allowing an environmentally friendly and breathable space to study and relax. The benefits of building a new study area, allow for a greater chance of success among the students, especially if they have an area that secludes but also reflexes the importance of studying and being independent. The building will be gaining its electrical power from the solar panels that will be installed to the perimeter of the dome, angled from sunrise to peak and sunset, in which the sun rises and sets. This would be allowing independence from the main building and a source of renewable energy and a healthier environment for the students. The Building will consist of a floor and a half, with the half being individual cubicles for self-study in a balcony kind of way, where each student can be to themselves and not have to worry about others bothering or being a bother to them. Within each cubicle, there will consist of a comfortable desk and two chairs for when an individual cares to bring a person.  When keeping in mind the budget, our plan was to not depend on raising student tuition due to it already being high from the perspective of the general population at CCNY. Our proposal revolves around sponsors that will lend furniture in order for the influence and potential investors from companies, corporations, and businesses that are looking for successful students and sponsor this project for further success at The City College of New York. 

Costs	Quantity	prices $
Concrete foundation	1	$   54,977.86
Steel frame	1	$       12,566.40
Plumbing	4 units	$   20,000.00
solar panels	10 units	$     160,000.00
flooring	577 cases	$   15,636.70
wall	376 cases	$          8,963.84
installations	6	$   20,000.00
steel I beams	4	$          1,248.00
Two way mirror	50	$ 1,230,000.00
Total		$ 1,523,392.80

 

Above are the costs that would result from the framing and construction of the said proposal, although it is not completely using up all of the two million, the extra that is left could potentially go to any errors in calculations that might have resulted. 

 

Team Biographies:

Jinjie Liao, is a freshman in environmental engineering at The City College of New York. She transferred from LaGuardia Community College, is interested in solving pollution problems. She is a member of NYWEA (New York Water Environment Association) club. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing novels, and drawing. She is seeking the opportunity to work with environmental engineers. One day Jinjie hopes to be an environmental engineer to help people drink safe water.

Maryhelen De Simone, is a junior in mechanical engineering at The City College of New York, working with the Groove School of Engineering in furthering her career of becoming an automotive engineer. Since coming to america at a young age, Maryhelen was always looked upon as the child that would succeed in her family. Currently that is what she wishes to be, and by continuing her schooling at The City college, she wishes to graduate in a years time and start her career with hopefully an internship with one of the major engineering companies, and to work for her dream in formula one company Ferrari in the manufacturing and engineering of the popular racers.

Ushna Arshid is a junior at The City College of New York majoring in Computer Science, and looking for opportunities in Software Development. She is a technology enthusiastic, highly motivated individual who delivers on time, with quality and under budget. She wants to empower and mentor women/students from underprivileged backgrounds to join the field of Technology and Science to promote creativity and innovation. During her sophomore year, she interned at Coney Island Hospital as an Assistant Patient Navigator which has helped her become good at data management. Currently, she works as a Computer Science Tutor with a desire to help students excel in problem solving and critical thinking. She is seeking for CS research and internship opportunities, along with her studies, to help her become a successful Software Developer. 

Radhyyah Hossain is a freshman at The City College of New York studying mechanical engineering. She is still branching out to different aspects of mechanical engineering but is interested in research about artificial limbs through engineering. She wants to learn engineering to help people with disabilities to make their lives easier and comfortable. During the summer of her senior year, Radhyyah did a program with the Cooper Union Formula One Team where she designed, tested, and built a part of their race car. This helped her learn 3-D designing and machining skills. In her free time, Radhyyah likes to read and paint. She hopes to become a successful engineer one day. 

Conclusion:

Students want a library where they have enough space and the right facilities to do the range of things that being a student requires. This can be a quick chat with a friend, completing a group work task, or an eight-hour essay-writing session. They want to see books and helpful, friendly people. The library is the students’ office and they expect the comfort, services and functionality of a modern office, with the staff and resources of a top university library.

The Marshak Study Hall would be a great way to reduce the amount of stress that students face during the semester. It will give equal opportunity to all students who wish to study on campus to improve grades and academic performance. The problem of overcrowdedness and uncomfortableness that are present in the current libraries would be reduced by a huge amount as The Marhak Study Hall would be able to accommodate up to 2000 people. The power problems will also run smoothly as the study hall electricity will run with the help of solar panels. It would provide the environment required by the student where they will feel comfortable.

 

References:

CostOwl.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.costowl.com/home-improvement/foundations-framing-steel-i-beam.html. 

Darrell, Justin, Brandon, Suzanne, & Eugene. (2019, September 17). Florida Tile Home Collection Galactic Slate 12 in. x 24 in. Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile (13.62 sq. ft/ case)-CHDEGLX1012X24. Retrieved from https://www.homedepot.com/p/Florida-Tile-Home-Collection-Galactic-Slate-12-in-x-24-in-Porcelain-Floor-and-Wall-Tile-13-62-sq-ft-case-CHDEGLX1012X24/304974150.

Glass Two Way Mirror: In Stock: Custom Sizes: Worldwide Shipping. (2019, May 24). Retrieved from https://www.twowaymirrors.com/glass/.

Matasci, S. (2019, October 31). Solar Panel Cost: Avg. Solar Panel Prices by State in 2019: EnergySage. Retrieved from https://news.energysage.com/how-much-does-the-average-solar-panel-installation-cost-in-the-u-s/.

Rebecca, & Mac. (2018, June 7). MSI Metro Glacier 12 in. x 24 in. Glazed Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile (16 sq. ft. / case)-NHDMETGLA1224. Retrieved from https://www.homedepot.com/p/MSI-Metro-Glacier-12-in-x-24-in-Glazed-Porcelain-Floor-and-Wall-Tile-16-sq-ft-case-NHDMETGLA1224/204491892.

2019 Foundation Costs: Build Concrete Basement Cost Calculator. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://homeguide.com/costs/foundation-cost.

2019 Plumbing Installation Costs: Cost To Plumb & Repipe A House. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://homeguide.com/costs/install-new-house-plumbing-pipes-cost.

 

Appendix:

Survey Questions:

1. Do you feel comfortable studying in the library?
2. Do you think there is enough room in the library to study?
3. How do you feel about the library environment?
4. What improvements do you think can be done with the library?
5. How would you feel about a new place on campus just to study?

                                                        Figure 1: QR Code for the survey.

 

 Figure 2: Question from the survey about how they like the library. 65% say yes, 35% say no.

 

Figure 3: Question from the survey about space in the library. 32% say yes, 68% say no.  

 

Figure 4: Question from the survey about the proposal idea. 99% say yes, 1% says no.