BUA Inaugurates New Student Commons
In a long-awaited and much-hoped for expansion, BUA significantly enlarged its physical footprint in the fall of 2024 by annexing the first floor in the rear section of One University Road – what used to be BU’s Student Activities Office. That space is now the BUA Student Commons, a multi-use area housing a large student lounge, student support offices, quiet study rooms, and an athletic training room.
The Student Commons lounge – outfitted with bright, inviting furniture and a living moss wall – was an instant hit, and students across all grades wasted no time in making the space their own. Before school, students gather to do crossword puzzles, play games, or prepare for the coming day; friends chat and laugh together over lunch; after school, students read, relax, or get a head start on homework. The Student Commons has also been used to host affinity group celebrations, student activities, and school events.
Beyond its role as a social hub, the Student Commons expansion has significantly enhanced BUA’s student support program. The quiet study room has improved teachers’ ability to administer extra-time testing, and students appreciate having a truly silent space in which to work. BU undergraduate tutors offer subject-specific academic support for BUA students during Homework Club. Clustering the offices of School Psychologist Stacey Weiskopf, Director of Student Support Jill Atkinson, and Learning Specialist Rachel Mansour together in the Student Commons has improved communication among that team and created a central hub for academic support and student wellbeing.
The final piece of the renovation was the creation of a dedicated athletic training room – the first in BUA’s history. This space, which houses a treatment table and athletic training equipment and can be accessed both from the gym and from the Student Commons, enables BUA’s athletic trainer to properly assess, treat, and rehabilitate student athletes – a big upgrade from our former setup in Dave Stone’s office!
The Student Commons space has been a game-changer for our school: with this addition, the entirety of the building at One University Road is occupied solely by BUA during the school day. We are grateful to BU for making this space available to us. The move speaks to BU’s faith in and commitment to BUA, especially considering the high demand for space across the University. We are likewise grateful to the donors in our community who recognized the impact that the new Student Commons would have on the lives of our students and chose to invest in this transformative renovation.
