The new green space taking the place of Loyola’s Old Library is planned as an attractive site to stabilize the campus’ appearance, be utilized by students and display remnants from the Old Library.

The green space will have walkways to the new Monroe Hall and Palm Court. As part of the University’s Master Plan, the site will eventually be home to the Tom Benson Jesuit Center.

Thomas J. Raymond, assistant vice president for administration, said the new green space will occupy the area for the new Jesuit Center until construction begins.

“Because construction of the new Benson Jesuit Center will not begin immediately, and in keeping with our tradition of maintaining an attractive campus, the decision was made to provide temporary walkways and grass in what would otherwise be an unattractive site,” Raymond said.

Raymond reported Loyola to have no specific timeline for the construction of the new Tom Benson Jesuit Center. The new green space will be maintained until that construction begins, possibly sometime after 2016.

Andrew Potthast, music industries senior, does not think the new green space fits the needs of the students.

“I think that if we are focusing on constant construction and image of the school, we aren’t focusing on the students, which is what Loyola should be doing,” Potthast said.

There is not a specific name for the green space, and the same rules that apply to open areas of campus apply there, according to Raymond. The green space will also have a portion included to display salvaged items from the Old Library.

“If I were to utilize the space, it would simply be for reading books and hanging out with friends,” Potthast said. “I would want the space to have a purpose besides being for the students if I were to utilize it completely.”

Samuel Ravelo, theater and political science senior, feels that other spaces on campus are already underutilized and that demolishing the Old Library was unnecessary.

“I think that the Old Library could have been refurbished, probably,” Ravelo said. “Constructing new facilities is expensive, and I’m annoyed with so much of the academic court being taken up by the demolition.”

Loyola’s new green space is intended to create an attractive appearance rather than the construction zone appearance the campus has seen in recent years, even if the change is only one year’s time.