Southern Illinois University Carbondale announced on April 23 the opening of the new England Student Center Lounge, a student-designed space located on the fourth floor of the Student Center. The ribbon cutting and dedication will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, with an open house continuing until 1 p.m. The event is open to both the public and campus community.
The new lounge was created in response to student requests for a dedicated area where they could gather, study, relax, and access amenities tailored to their needs. Undergraduate Student Government leaders worked with SIU interior design students and received funding from alumni Bob and Pat England to bring the project to life.
Kent Epplin, director of the Student Center, said: “This is truly a student-led, student-designed and student-focused effort to establish a space – a place created especially to address the needs of Salukis. This is a multi-purpose space to meet multiple needs.”
Penny Bordewick, who served as USG president during the project’s launch in 2024-25, described her initial vision for transforming unused space into something valuable for students: “As soon as we started walking around, I began to see the vision. It had so much potential to be something great, a space that could be just for the students, created by the students.” She outlined features such as areas for socializing or studying; livestreaming Saluki athletic events; games; respite room; conference room; podcast spot; performance areas; kitchenette; workout equipment; and family-friendly spaces.
Lydia Phelps succeeded Bordewick as USG president and continued moving forward with implementation. “I kept the process moving forward because this project was directly rooted in student voices,” Phelps said. “Through polling… it was clear…students felt [the] real absence of a meaningful ‘third space’ on campus… I felt responsibility not just [to] advocate for it but see it through.”
Interior design proposals were developed by senior architecture students under instructor Jennifer Matthews’ guidance. Bordewick credited them with bringing “the vision ‘for the students, by the students’” fully into reality.
Funding came from Bob and Pat England’s $250,000 gift via SIU Foundation support after more than five decades since they met at SIU themselves.
Alex Baughman reflected on his involvement: “For students of future this is going serve as phenomenal ‘third space’ … Working on this project has been an honor – something I’ll always consider one of most important things I did while I was in college.”
University officials say that with continued collaboration between current leaders and alumni supporters like Bob and Pat England—who plan to attend Thursday’s event—the lounge aims not only at supporting academic success but also fostering lasting connections among Salukis.
