The Many Faces of the Coronado Lobby...
What defines a space? Is it the items in it, the time of day, the people that interact with that space, or perhaps all of these? Often times we go through life and intermingle with various places on a regular basis, but never stop to think about what these places rightly stand for or exemplify. The place that my group and I have chosen to analyze is the Coronado residence hall lobby. Hopefully after reading this blog you will have a different perception about Coronado and what it truly represents. Coronado one of the University of Arizona’s largest dorms on campus, was built in 1966 as an all-girls dorm. However today, Coronado serves as a home to around 800 students both men and women. It upholds a tradition of being a very upbeat, lively, and socially centered spot on campus. Taking a look closer Coronado has characteristics that some people tend to miss. Sure it may be a little rough around the edges but at the end of the day it is still one of the oldest and most talked about dorms on the U of A campus.
Center Spot
The image above is the main section of the Coronado lobby; it is the center and focal point as people walk through the front-doors. Here in the picture it is mid-day with the desk assistance, students, RA’s and residence all gathered around. An interesting fact about this desk is that it is the only U of A dorm that has 24 hour desk assistance on duty. So no matter what time of the day residence are always greeted as they walk through the doors. Because of this feature students can always feel a since of security when walking into their dorm. Safety is definitely one of the top concerns for not only the university, but for the students and parents of students as well. Feeling safe and comfortable within your dorm helps to allow students enjoy all the benefits and freedoms of college in a safe manner. Trying new things, meeting new people, and creating a new daily schedule are a part of the transition from high school to college. Living in a dorm with the characteristics to help those transitions easy is crucial. Students get to interact with each other in a harmless and friendly environment of the Coronado lobby. In this photo you can also see a heart balloon and flowers in the left hand corner. This represents the aspect of home that residences living in Coronado are missing. By picking up your packages, flowers, chocolates etc. from loved ones in the lobby, it creates an inviting atmosphere for visitors and residence. Another feature of the lobby that comes across when you walk in is the way it resembles a hotel. The tile as you can see in the picture is a pinkish-tan that seems to match exactly with the old paint on the walls. A hotel is meant to create a place away from home that guest should feel comfortable and relaxed in. Coronado lobby, because of its set up exemplifies a ‘second home’ type of feeling for first year students away from home. From this photograph you can get a sense of what people first see and feel when they walk through the front doors of Coronado residence hall.
More than A Walk Way
This is a photo of the Coronado lobby walk way that is just a few steps shy of the front doors. I would like to point out the grey mail boxes on the far right hand side of the photo. These boxes hold mail for hundreds U of A students, 6 days a week. It stands for a connection with home, or a chance to catch up with family. Without mail many students, especially those far from home would feel a sense of emptiness. It is crucial to feel at ease in the environment that students live in so they can enjoy the social aspects that college has to offer and focus on academics as well. Another attribute that centers the mail in this photo is the way the lighting is set up. You can see three lights above the boxes shinning down onto them. With those lights it’s tough to miss one of the most important parts of the Coronado lobby. Little aspects of this picture that I find interesting is the RA profiles on the right hand side, white hand-sanitizer dispenser in the middle, and the grey fire extinguisher box on the right wall. These minor items play a big part to Coronado and to the lobby. The RA profiles are important so that residence can get a sense of what people help run Coronado, who not to get on their bad side, and who to hide the alcohol from if they hear a knock on the door. The hand sanitizer is essential to cleanliness, well sort of. I find it ironic that there is a hand sanitizer yet the couches in the study rooms are old and moldy. However, this shows that hygiene and a way for students to avoid germs do take part in some of Coronado’s budget. The last small item in this photo, the fire extinguisher, represents the lobby sense of security in case of an emergency. Nevertheless Coronado is notorious for having many unexpected fire drills due to residence. So not only does the fire extinguisher help to put out a fire of necessary but it also highlights on the many 2 a.m. uncalled fire drills residence have to partake in. The main part of this photo is the two blonde girls about to walk out of the lobby. Perhaps they are going to get dinner, or study with books just purchased from the bookstore? What is ironic about this photo and the other photos is that all of them feature girls. In this dorm the girls greatly outnumber the boys, which definitely gives Coronado a feminine atmosphere. For example we can analyze that maybe due to the time of day that these photos were taken (early evening) it is more likely to see girls going out to dinner or talking in the lobby, and when perhaps the men are at the gym? Due to the fact that Coronado has suite style bathrooms, unlike most dorms on campus it may add to the reasoning of why so many females prefer this dorm over the rest. Girls tend to go to the bathroom in packs and enjoy spending time in front of the mirror with friends, unlike guys who find it awkward to go in the bathroom in packs and simply do their business then leave. This photo captures the parts of Coronado that people seem to miss. It is a place that tries to keep people connected, safe, and clean but also a space that takes on the demographic of being a primarily female dominated dorm on campus.
Lobby Talk
These couches shown in this photo can be found to the right hand side only a few steps from the main lobby doors. It is a perfect location to relax and see all of the many faces that pass through Coronado each day. But I believe this photograph represents what Coronado is best known for…the social life. The couches shown in the photograph are often the meeting place for residence before going out, going to class, or simply a place to catch up on the weekend gossip. During the week nights though you will see this sitting area being used how it is in the photo. In this snapshot you can see that the three girls are in a casual conversation, and are all dressed in workout attire. Perhaps they have just gotten home from working out or about to leave to the gym. Either way Coronado is a central place to socialize about what is going on in the college community. It is more than just a place where residences live. It is a place that captures the social characteristic of college and allows students to be right in the middle of it. This couch (even though they are somewhat old) is s spot where memories are created. When you look back on your college experience many memories and stories will instantly come to mind, most of them probably being in your freshman year when everything around you in new. This Coronado lobby allows students to make these social memories with friends and add to their overall lifestyle of being an Arizona Wildcat. When you live in a place that houses hundreds of college students there is bound to be gossip, rumors, and stories that go around. No matter what time of the day, from 8am to 12pm if you enter Coronado lobby you will find residence relaxing, waiting, catching up on gossip, but most importantly using the lobby to make memorable moments to look back on.
Always a Wait
After passing the sitting area, and going through the walk way, you can find yourself at the elevators. With 8 floors, elevators may be the most essential part to the Coronado lobby. The majority of the week you will find at least one is not working but otherwise waiting for the elevators is where a good number of the people in Coronado lobby can be found. To use the elevators you must swipe your Cat Card, this is another way that Coronado provides safety to residence. The girls in this picture are all standing very close to the doors somewhat impatiently waiting. On the ground in the right hand corner you can see a Doritos chip bag. This is very common for the lobby, and for college students to not throw away their trash, knowing that a custodial crew will do it for them. In the far left hand corner there is even a large green bin where you can drop your trash and recycle items. The green bulletin board displayed seems neglected and not a vital part to this area. From what is presented in this photo we can analyze that not only is this section of the lobby used for students to wait for the elevators, but also illustrates possible activities that Coronado residence may not par-take in, or like. The trash on the ground shows how certain residence may not pay attention to how they dispose their waste or care about the environment enough to recycle. Would the bulletin board have more importance to the residence if they had Cosmo magazine make-up tips or the latest UA basketball statistics up? I think yes. Coronado is known as the party dorm on campus and the majority of teens are interested in material such as make-up and sports, other than knowing local news around campus and Tucson. College is a time to grow and become a well-rounded individual, which means being aware of current events. From seeing things in this lobby that students are not taking advantage of, such as the bulletin board, and trash bins it is safe to say Coronado lobby can be depicted as an area for the young adults. Sure these students are in college but if their parents were living in the same place it is most likely that they would treat it with more respect. The residences are slowly but surely learning how to live an adult lifestyle but some may be taking longer than others to mature. All together though we can see how the Coronado lobby displays a young and carefree lifestyle.
Something to Remember
The University of Arizona is a school that has upheld tradition over the years in academics, athletics, school pride and so much more. Each building on campus has its own look, history, design, and stories that have followed with it through the years. Coronado plays a part on this campus along with all of the other buildings and dorms.Just by walking through Coronado lobby at different times of the day you will see something new; whether it's girls talking in the couch area, students waiting for the mail and elevators, or a group just getting back from a party. One thing is for certain though; through these pictures it is present that the Coronado lobby exemplifies a social college atmosphere. Just by entering the lobby you will be introduced to the social and daily lifestyle of a student living in the dorms. If you take a different look at these images presented in the blog you will find so much more to Coronado then just a party dorm. By spatially analyzing these photos I now see the lobby that I interact with each day in a different perspective. Coronado lobby is a space for young, mostly feamle adults, to interact with each other in a safe, and care-free envoirnment. It is in a sense more than just a dorm, but a place that incoming UA students can experiment with their freedom away from home and make memories to last a lifetime.
Center Spot
The image above is the first main section of the Coronado lobby; it is essentially the center and focus when people walk through the front-doors. At different times of the day the desk area changes, here in the pictures is mid-day with students, desk assistance, maybe RA’s and friends all around. An interesting fact about this desk is that it is the only U of A dorm that has 24 hour desk assistance on duty. So no matter what time of the day residence are always greeted by a desk assistant. In this photo you can also see the heart balloon and flowers in the left hand corner. This represents the since of home that residence living in Coronado are missing. Maybe a balloon for Valentine’s Day? Flowers for a birthday? Or just a simple way for a loved one to reconnect with a person they truly miss. The people in this photo can be described as more than just standing around a desk. Let’s take into account that they all seemed to be dressed for warm weather, wearing jeans, boots, sweaters, and sweatshirts it seems to be a cold day in Tucson. The desk assistant seems to be pointing at the young man standing in front of him looking to the side girls for an answer. He could be asking a question that he may not know, or they simply are in a conversation. Either way it is relevant that the desk is serving as a central aspect in this photograph. When I first walked into Coronado for the first time my first thought was “this looks like an old hotel”. Compared to most dorms Coronado is hotel looking, especially in the lobby. The tile as you can see in the picture is a pinkish-tan that seems to match exactly with the old paint that tremendously needs a new coat. From this photograph you can get a sense of what people see and experience as they first walk into Coronado.
More Than A Walk Way
This is a photograph of the Coronado lobby walk way that is just a few steps after walking through the front doors. The first thing I would like to point out is the grey mail boxes on the far right hand side of the photo. These mail boxes hold mail for close to 800 U of A students, 6 days a week. It stands for a connection with home, or a chance to catch up with family. Without mail many students, especially those far from home would feel a sense of emptiness. Another attribute that centers the mail in this photo is the way the lighting is set up. You can see three lights above the boxes shinning down onto them. With those lights it’s tough to miss one of the most important parts of the Coronado lobby. Little aspects of this picture that I find interesting is the RA profiles on the right hand side, white hand-sanitizer dispenser in the middle, and the grey fire extinguisher box on the right wall. These minor items play a big part to Coronado and to the lobby. The RA profiles are important so that residence can get a sense of what people help run Coronado, who not to get on their bad side, and who to hide the alcohol from if they hear a knock on the door. The hand sanitizer is essential to cleanliness, well sort of. I find it ironic that there is a hand sanitizer yet the couches in the study rooms are old and moldy. However, this shows that hygiene and a way for students to avoid germs do take part in some of Coronado’s budget. The last small item in this photo, the fire extinguisher, represents the lobby sense of security in case of an emergency. Nevertheless Coronado is notorious for having many unexpected fire drills due to residence. So not only does the fire extinguisher stand for a way to put out the fire but it also highlights on the many 2 am uncalled for fire drills residence have to partake in. The main part of this photo is the two blonde girls about to walk out of the lobby. Perhaps they are going to get dinner, or study with books just purchased from the bookstore? Through the week and weekend hundreds of students pass through this area. On weekends this is where you will find residence checking in guests (for security reasons) and coming back from a night out. You never know the crazy things, or people that you will see on weekend nights go through here. This photo captures the parts of Coronado that people seem to miss. It is a place that tries to keep people connected, safe, and clean but also transforms in the night time to a busy space full of character.
Lobby Talk
These coaches shown in this photo can be found to the right hand side only a few steps from walking into the lobby. It is a perfect location to relax and see all of the many faces that pass through the Coronado lobby each day. But I believe this photograph represents what Coronado is best known for…the social life. These couches shown in the photograph are often the meeting point for residence before going out, going to class, or a place to catch up on the weekend gossip. Many times after coming home from a party on weekends you will find many residences waiting her for their food from various places such as Papa John’s, and Jimmy Johns. During the week nights though you will see this sitting area being used how it is in the photo. This snapshot you can see the three girls are in a conversation which seems to be very important. They are all dressed in black workout clothes. Perhaps they have just gotten home from working out or about to leave to the gym. Either way Coronado is a central place to socialize about what is going on in the college community. When you live in a place that houses hundreds of college students there is bound to be gossip, rumors, and stories that go around. It is crucial to know what is going on and never miss a juicy story. The chairs in these pictures are all facing inwards towards each other making it easy to keep the conversation close and not public to others. From the body language of the girls we can see that they all seem very relaxed and comfortable on the couches. They all have their feet up on the table and seem to be in a content mood. No matter what time of the day, from 8am to 12pm if you enter Coronado lobby you will find residence relaxing, waiting, or catching up on gossip sitting in this area.
Always A Wait
After passing the sitting area, going through the walk way, you can find yourself at the elevators. With 8 floors, elevators may be the most essential part to the Coronado lobby. The majority of the week you will find at least one is not working but otherwise waiting for the elevators is where a good number of the people in Coronado lobby can be found. To use the elevators you must swipe your Cat Card, this is another way that Coronado provides safety to residence. Frequently there will be students waiting for others to come and swipe their card because they have forgotten theirs. The girls in this picture are all standing very close to the doors somewhat impatiently waiting. There is an elevator open behind them but they choose to wait for the side with two, maybe hoping they will come faster? Time and again if you live on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Coronado people will yell at you for not taking the stairs. On the ground in the right hand corner you can see a Doritos chip bag thrown on the ground. This is very common for the lobby, and for college students to not throw away their trash, knowing that a custodial crew will do it for them. In the far left hand corner there is even a large green bin where you can drop your trash and recycle items. Whoever dropped this or threw it on the ground couldn’t even walk around 15 feet to throw it away. The green bulletin board is displayed in the photo stands out because of the lighting. Just like over the mail boxes three spotlight bulbs shine down on flyers about what’s going on in Coronado or around campus. This also captures again why so many people think Coronado looks like a hotel. Due to the fact that it was built in the 1960’s it is possible that this type of layout for lobbies is what architects knew how to create, other than dorms specific to students needs. All together though we can see how Coronado incorporates and presents the college lifestyle as soon as you walk through the front double doors into the lobby.
Something to Remember
The University of Arizona is a school that has upheld tradition over the years in academics, athletics, school pride and so much more. Each building on campus has its own look, history, design, and stories that have followed with it through many years. Coronado plays a part on this campus along with all of the other buildings and dorms. Everyone who has ever heard of Coronado has probably been told of its socially centered reputation of being the number one party dorm on campus. Is that true? Well who knows, while some would say yes others might say no. The key is not to judge a book by its cover, experience everything yourself. College is a completely different world, especially for freshman students. Just by walking through Coronado lobby at different times in the day you will see something new; whether it is girls talking in the couch area, students waiting for the mail and elevators, or a group just getting back from a party checking in guests. One thing is for certain though; through these pictures it is present that the Coronado lobby exemplifies a college atmosphere. Just by entering the lobby you will be introduced to the social and daily lifestyle of a student living in the dorms. From late night studying, going out to parties, checking mail, talking with the desk assistant, or waiting for the elevators the Coronado lobby will always leave visitors and residence with something to remember for the rest of their lives.
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