King’s Dedicates O’Keeffe Student Union
The campus community gathered on Monday to celebrate the opening of the O’Keeffe Student Union.
NEW YORK CITY–November 16, 2015
The campus community gathered on Monday to celebrate the opening of the O’Keeffe Student Union, which overlooks the New York Stock Exchange from its location at the corner of New Street and Exchange Place in Manhattan’s Financial District.
The construction of the O’Keeffe Student Union was made possible by a gift from the Esther B. O’Keeffe Charitable Foundation. The ceremony included a ribbon-cutting, comments from President Gregory Alan Thornbury, and a prayer of dedication.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with The King’s College in creating this important space for their students,” said Clare O’Keeffe, a trustee of The O’Keeffe Foundation.
“I’m so excited to see what is to come after the O’Keeffe Student Union’s opening today,” said Reese Evans, president of the student body at King’s. “This new space creates a stronger presence for our community in the Financial District, and I’m so glad that our college continues to grow.”
The new space creates approximately 3,200 square feet dedicated to student life. The facility offers students a comfortable space to gather and work, as well as hold meetings and events. It includes spacious office space for The King’s Council, a kitchen, two bathrooms, a ping pong table, a long counter for individual study, outlets and data input throughout the space, and a lounge area. Three walls in the Union are dedicated to student art, and rotating displays will be managed by the student-led Aesthetics Club.
“This new space recaptures some of what we had when our campus was located at the Empire State Building,” said President Gregory Alan Thornbury. “We’re so delighted that Miss O’Keeffe is partnering with King’s to help improve the life of our students and cultivate a vibrant community here in our downtown Manhattan campus.”
The Union will be open to students from 8:00am until midnight, and professional security guards will be on duty whenever the space is open. The space is located directly below the College lobby at 56 Broadway.