Since the dedication of Burks Place on Apr. 23, 2023, students have enjoyed the succulent smoothies, delicious donuts, and powdery pastries—along with countless cups of coffee. This central gathering point of the school may seem ubiquitous, but it hasn’t always been.
Construction on Burks Place began in December 2022, with a goal to replace the aging “Fishbowl” with a new space for campus life and student engagement. Previously, the “Fishbowl” had little seating and served as little more than a confluence of two major hallways; with the renovation of the concessions area and expansion of the seating spaces, Burks Place can accommodate more for students and their needs than ever before. The previous president, Fr. Lydon made the renovation of Burks Place a primary part of his initiative to leave a positive legacy on the school.
“We at Saint Viator have made a conscious decision to deepen our commitment to continuous advancement, access and achievement,” said Fr. Lydon in an interview with the Viatorian newsletter in 2023. “The time has come for Saint Viator High School to look boldly into the future.”
Now the future is here, and Burks Place has boldly transformed our campus.
From live music to club, and sports meetings and everything in between, Burks Place has figured prominently in the reinvigoration of the student body.
“It’s been nice to see them use it,” said Mr. Levin, Director of Student Activities. “Students have found good use for it as a more laid back setting for study halls, lunch periods, and flex time.” During every study hall from N1 to R4 Burks Place is full of students from all grade levels enjoying the many amenities it offers;
“It is a great meetup spot where you can always talk to people,” said sophomore Kevin Maciolek. “I think Burks place brings students together because there is always someone you know and can talk to.” Open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Burks Place sees its highest popularity directly after school. During Flex Time, Burks Place becomes crammed as people flock to meet their friends after a long day of school. In the morning too, Burks sees high traffic.
During a hectic morning, many students can forget to buy their coffee or eat breakfast. For these latecomers, Burks Place is a great spot to go when in need of a snack to get them through to lunch. Whilst enjoying these snacks, students got to enjoy some live performances by student musicians during the build up to finals week last Christmas.
“We are trying to bring that back more,” said Mr. Levin. “This year we’re trying to work with Morgan’s Message and the Music program.” Along with the many pastries and drinks that Burks Place serves, its ambiance makes it a great place for studying or catching up with friends; the contrast of the welcoming wood tones, expansive seating, and warm ambient light to the tiled hallway make Burks shine at the heart of the school.
“My favorite thing about Burks Place is definitely the lighting, furniture, and the wood floor,” said senior Mark Kabuye. “I definitely think that those little details make Burks place as special as it is.” Mark’s “go to item at Burks place is a chocolate chip cookie or a chocolate donut.”
Although Burks Place has proven to be an amazing addition to our school, some feel that problems are brewing.
“Burks Place is nice but it’s always crowded during the day, making it hard to walk through,” said senior Conor Nugent. Burks Place’s central location in the building causes foot traffic especially during passing periods. Although Burks closes during passing period, it can quickly become deadlocked, especially during the third period when everyone’s going to lunch.
“There’s been a learning curve, but it has been a more open opportunity for students and given them more freedom,” said Mr. Levin, Director of Student Activities. Other students desire Burks to accept alternate forms of payment.
“It would be more convenient if the registers had card payments available,” said Senior Mark Kabuye.
“‘It runs the way it does because Quest runs it, but that’s something we can look into,” Director of Student Activities, Eric Levin said. “‘Any concern students have they should bring to their student council reps, who can bring it up to the administration.’”
Despite the few nuisances Burks Place causes, most students agree that its pros outweigh the cons.