In the summer of 2025 and throughout the fall semester, the third and second floors of the College of Fine Arts (COFA) building underwent construction. Now that renovations are complete, music and visual art students will return to their original learning spaces after beginning the 2025-2026 school year at the Oddfellows building on 9th street.
Converting the Oddfellows building to a temporary studio came with its challenges for students trying to become acclimated with the new space.
Jai Boyd, a sophomore painting major and electronic studio minor from Utah, shared that Oddfellows was not an ideal environment for her major. She explained how the limited classroom space affected her artistry.
“The spaces weren’t sufficient to fit the large class sizes. We would have to split into two rooms, which I thought still felt quite cramped,” Boyd said.
Due to the carpeted space, painters had to exercise extreme caution to prevent spilling materials on the floor. Unlike the classrooms in the COFA building, utility sinks were not provided; therefore, students were forced to travel to and from the bathroom to dispose of paint water and clean their brushes.
“Our professor advised that we shouldn’t leave work there, as there was a high risk of things being stolen,” Boyd shared.
Despite the building being located off-campus some students such as Boyd said that from her dorm, Howard Plaza Towers, it was a decent journey to Oddfellows. Apple Maps states that it is an 8-minute walk to and from.
“Overall, I didn’t really enjoy this alternative placement, and am very grateful to be returning to the COFA building,” Boyd said.
William Webb, a junior musical theatre major from Atlanta, Georgia, has had classes in the Oddfellows building both the fall and spring semesters.
“I am really grateful to even have a new space to sharpen my craft and then the amenities to do what I love under the security of the Oddfellows,” Webb said. “There is also a good amount of space since there are floors designated to specific majors.”
He said that difficulties lie within transportation and safety.
Jordan Catoe Strudwick, deputy director of communications and archives real estate development, previously stated that a shuttle to Oddfellows leaves every hour from the front of Crampton Auditorium.
Webb shared that the Metro is more reliable than the campus shuttle.
“When the shuttle comes, it doesn’t wait unless someone is outside, and a lot of the time we will miss it because our classes finish when it arrives,” Webb said.
He has found that there is a bus on Georgia Ave. that he sometimes takes to get back to campus. A piece of advice he offered is to utilize the electric scooters and bikes found around campus.
“The area isn’t the safest, so that is a growing concern with the building. We usually travel in groups to ensure everyone gets where they need to go safely,” Webb said.
A sophomore acting major from Virginia, Parker Bryant, said he feels nervous about the building switch, but confident the students and faculty could adjust, emphasizing the importance of communication.
“All we need from teachers and faculty to ensure that this transition is smooth is clear, concise communication in a timely manner,” Bryant said.
Thelonious Starnes teaches stagecraft, where he specializes in audio and lighting. He shared some of the issues with timing and commute between buildings he has observed.
“I have some dancers, their class ends at 3:30 and you’ve got to book it down here,” Starnes said.
He said students in situations like these just need to communicate and he will be accommodating.
Starnes was informed about the construction before the fall semester began. He planned the move-out accordingly, but it was difficult because COFA was still putting on productions.
“We still had shows and things that we had to do up until, maybe a week [or] two before I had to move out,” Starnes said.
He expressed that the construction has allowed more time for students to understand the “why” of audio and lighting, rather than just doing the “what.” Starnes shares that students will have the opportunity to do hands-on work in April for a special event.
“We’re here (Oddfellows) because we’re getting a significant improvement that we’ve been waiting for, for decades. So this, to me, is great,” Starnes said.
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore
