65: Chapter 65 Library Building Design Collection Activity_1
65 -65 Library Building Design Collection Activity_1
“Principal Ding, I think you don’t have to assign so many students to come to the library.”
Zhang Jianyang was quite direct.
He had never seen a library so full of students, so he assumed that Principal Ding had deliberately arranged it this way.
Ding Yue couldn’t help but smile at this comment.
He promptly replied, “Director Zhang, you might have misunderstood.
I didn’t arrange for students to come to the library as a show.
They all came here to study on their own.”
Zhang Jianyang frowned, expressing his doubt.
“Okay, Director Zhang, please come with me.” Ding Yue took Zhang Jianyang to the CCTV control room on the first floor of the library.
He then asked the staff responsible for the library surveillance to retrieve the last few days’ surveillance footage for Director Zhang to see.
The footage showed that the Mist City Arts and Science University library was this crowded every day.
Often, many people were unable to find seats, especially on weekends when it was even more crowded.
Watching the footage of students reading and studying fiercely in the library, Zhang Jianyang was profoundly moved.
The fierce learning atmosphere in the library was real!
Zhang Jianyang remembered his own college days in the last century when the library was also crowded even without smartphones and computers.
But compared to the thriving atmosphere at Mist City Arts and Science University, it was still lacking.
“I’m sorry, Principal Ding, that I misunderstood you.”
“Director Zhang, right now, the maximum capacity of our one and only library is less than two thousand people.
Many students can’t find seats when they come here.
Just a few days ago, a fight almost broke out over seat grabbing.
Hence, the first thing we need to do when expanding the campus is to build a new library,” Ding Yue explained the details of the library situation to Director Zhang.
“Well, the fact that the library is already inadequate with just one cohort, indeed calls for the construction of another library, and it will have to be larger,” Zhang Jianyang nodded in agreement.
“Yes, besides the library, there’s the cafeteria, the dormitory buildings, and in the future the teaching buildings, sports field, gym, hospital, and on-campus hotel, etc.”
“Shall we go take a look at the dormitory building?”
Thus, Ding Yue and Zhang Jianyang visited the student dormitory building.
The number of dormitory buildings were built in accordance with the student population of Mist City Siyuan University.
When Mist City Arts and Science University has all four cohorts filled, the dormitory buildings will be insufficient.
After the inspection of the dormitory building, they visited the west side of Mist City Arts and Science University
To the west of Mist City Arts and Science University is a vast, barren stretch of land.
According to earlier University Town plans, this area wasn’t necessary as Mist City Arts and Science University was already on the edge of University Town.
However, now that Mist City Arts and Science University wants to expand their campus, Zhang Jianyang thought it was reasonable after his inspection.
The inspection took the whole morning.
Zhang Jianyang was convinced, that if Mist City Arts and Science University is to expand, they surely need that extra plot of land.
Thus, Mist City Arts and Science University’s application for educational land allotment, in accordance with the “Xia Country Private Education Promotion Law”, was legitimate as they indeed needed the land for development, and should get it according to the national allotment criteria.
At noon, Zhang Jianyang’s group had their lunch at the cafeteria in Mist City Arts and Science University.
“Hmm~Principal Ding, the cafeteria of your university has good food.
It’s much better than the one at our Education Bureau,” Zhang Jianyang said to Ding Yue while enjoying his food.
“Ha Ha, thank you for the compliment.”
After lunch, Zhang Jianyang’s group left from Mist City Arts and Science University.
Before leaving, Zhang advised Ding Yue to continue waiting for authorization because it would be confirmed in a meeting by the Education Bureau, and as a single individual, he didn’t hold the decision.
However, Zhang Jianyang assured that all of Mist City Arts and Science University’s documents were in order, and upon inspection, they indeed needed an educational allotment of land for expansion.
Therefore, the authorization issue should not be a problem, and it’s only a matter of when the meeting can be held to confirm it.
Before Zhang Jianyang’s assurance, Ding Yue was relieved.
Normally, the most challenging part in this process is getting the required authorization, as it can halt the progress of plans.
Once the Education Bureau registers the record and grants authorization, the remaining tasks of running to different departments were trivial and could be done by running errands.
Ding Yue didn’t have to run those errands himself; with so many people in the university, it could be anyone’s responsibility.
Next, Ding Yue had an idea to let the students of the school of architecture to showcase their talent.
Ding Yue called in Director Liu Hongxia of the Publicity Department and Dean Chenghui of the School of Architecture.
“We plan to expand the school, and the first priority in expansion is to build a new library and dormitory.
Have you got any thoughts on the architectural design, Director Cheng?” Ding Yue asked, looking at Dean Cheng Hui.
Cheng Hui thought for a while and cautiously asked, “What exactly are you suggesting, Principal Ding?”
“Since we are building for our own school, wouldn’t it make the students prouder if they were involved?
This time, the buildings under construction, including the library and the dormitory building; the students from our School of Architecture are completely capable of trying their hand at designing it.
We allow the students to participate in designing their own library and dormitories, what do you think of this idea?” Ding Yue proposed straightforwardly.
“Yes, Principal Ding, that’s a good idea.
But, I’m worried about the students’ design capabilities…”
Cheng Hui expressed concern.
After all, even though they are students from the School of Architecture, they had only been in class for less than a semester.
Asking them to design the school library could be a challenge, as they might not be equipped with the requisite skills.
“Then let’s adopt a teacher-student collaboration and unite.
The final architectural design of the library that is adopted by the school will be rewarded with a prize of one hundred thousand yuan!” Ding Yue laughed, saying so to motivate the students in the School of Architecture.
One hundred thousand yuan!
“Director Liu, later on, you will post a notice on the school’s official website and on the forum about the ‘Library Architectural Design Collection’ activity,” Ding Yue instructed to Director Liu Hongxia.
“Yes, Principal Ding.”
“Director Chenghui, when you go back, let the students from the Architecture Department start taking action.
The prize of one hundred thousand yuan is waiting for them.”
“Okay!” Dean Chenghui quickly nodded.
The official website of Mist City Arts and Science University posted a document about the school’s expansion and the solicitation of excellent architectural designs for the new library.
Also, a related pinned thread appeared on the school forum.
[New Library Extension – Seeking Architectural Designs from Students & Faculty – Prize Money 100,000 yuan!]
“Are we going to design our library?”
“Ha Ha Ha, I have ideas for designing.
Is there any ‘bro’ from the Architecture Department who wants to work with me so we can get this prize money of one hundred thousand yuan!”
“I guess the students from Architecture design should perform for this.”
“Ha Ha Ha, I am a Business Administration student and I opened this post.”
“Isn’t this a job for students from majors like Architecture Design, Civil Engineering, Water and Power, and Water Conservancy?”
“One hundred thousand yuan; I want it so much!”
There was many a comment under threads in the forum from the students, but most of them from other majors were just there to see the hustle and bustle.