Many people have noticed: while the conference table in the Great Room makes for great visuals as a background for a meeting, it’s not exactly optimal for hearing what others are saying. In otherwords, the accoustics are not so good. I’d also add that, for the years that we’ve had the Krasnow Holiday party in the GR, it’s a tad big. My sense is that there’s a bit too much open space for that sort of party.
On the other hand, the GR has performed extremely well on ceremonial occaisions, such as when Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa, arrived at Mason several years ago. And when there’s a string quartet on the mezzanine with a fundraising dinner going on below, it’s been hard to imagine a more beautiful location on campus.
Individuals, tongue-in-cheek, have suggested filling it up with water to make a large aquarium. Others have pointed out that it might make an idea aviary (although with its windows I have my doubts).
One thing is clear: as we move forward with the construction, we’re going to be using the GR a lot more, because it’ll become swing space–as with the mezzanine.
Maybe for the duration of the construction we do need some more couches and comfortable furniture to tide us through.
Jim
Discoverers and Discoveries 