Schnader House has a new identity

Members of Schnader College House are eager for the completion and 2011 opening of their new home. 

Five years of research and planning have led to the decision to renovate the existing Weis Residence Hall into Weis College House. This option was chosen over alternatives that included expanding Schnader and infringing on either Hartman Green or the residential quad. 

The Weis family, who donated the original funds 20 years ago to construct Weis Hall, have now made another donation to build the commons for Weis College House. Schnader is becoming Weis because the House takes the name of the donor, like the other College Houses. This will be the first time a College House has moved physical locations.  

There are many new features for students to look forward to, including a commons, living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a seminar room. 

Schnader will be used to house sophomores as Thomas Residence Hall is used now. The rooms in Schnader will be divided amongst the houses. Construction on the building will begin in the fall of 2011.

Renovations to Weis are centered on the two-story area known as the “Fishbowl.” Previously an open space, it will be completely renovated with a new ceiling that will separate the area into two floors. The upper floor will have the living room, seminar room, kitchen, and the entrance to the building. Below that will be apartment style housing for juniors and seniors. 

Kathleen Triman, professor of biology and don of Schnader College House, and Kate Snider, associate dean of the College and Schnader House prefect, will also have new offices in Weis College House. 

Triman is very excited to be the first don of Weis College House after having served as don of Schnader College House for two years. She replaced founding don Roger Thompson.

“One thing we have enjoyed is our location,” Triman said. “We have enjoyed being the crossroads; we are like Grand Central Station. In our new space we will also be the crossroads that will be between the residential quad and the new green.” 

She doesn’t feel the residents of Weis College House are going to be isolated on the edge of campus. Instead, this movement, along with the construction of a completely new fifth College House, will shift the focus of the residential quad.

New features of Weis College House, some of which Schnader has never had, include a common area, living room, full kitchen, and a seminar room. Another unique feature of this renovation is the design of the common room. The common area bump-out will have a garden on either side, and the room will include doors leading to these gardens. 

“I only see benefits for the students,” Snider said. “For me I see it as an opportunity to create more interaction in the House because there will be more space. Professors will teach their seminars there; we can have our House dinner there instead of an off campus location.”

There will be a lot of student involvement in this process, including two student initiatives surrounding the change in identity of the College House. “Lotto for the Motto” and “Quest for the Crest” are, as their names imply, how the College House’s new motto and crest will be chosen. Members of Schnader College House will be able to submit their ideas and be a part of the foundations of the College House. 

The renovation and movement are the beginning of the process with an end goal to integrate housing for all grade levels within the College House. 

“We want it to be truly a four-year experience,” Snider said. “We haven’t been able to do that as much in the current Houses, students have spread out a lot but now they can remain close to their House. I’m excited about it because it will be really important to have older students intermingled with the younger students.”

The dedication of Weis College House will take place in May of 2011. Formal grand openings for both the new College House and Weis College House will take place in the fall of 2011.

First-year Alex Lortie is a contributing writer. Her e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

First-year Justin Kozloski is a contributing writer. His e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .