Valkyrie Spring 2018 - Issue 3

Oak Hill Pavilion
under construction
story and photos by Elisabeth Martin | edited by Bailey Newhouse| design by Sara Arms,
A new indoor-outdoor pavilion at Berry College’s Oak
Hill will be a space for large events that offers a versatile
alternative to other event venues in the Rome area. The
pavilion, currently under construction, will be available to
rent as a large event space after construction ends in summer
2018. This pavilion is meant to host groups larer than
30.
The pavilion will cost around $4,000 to rent for events
such as wedding receptions, corporate conferences, and
large social events. It is available to both student groups at
Berry College and the Rome community.
“It gives us one more great space to use to introduce people
to Berry College,” Dean of students Debbie Heida said.
This pavilion is a unique addition because it provides
an indoor and outdoor space for events that would have
taken place outside in the past. Most importantly, the
pavilion is different from other event spaces because it is
air-conditioned.
“Everyone who has a wedding here is always outside and
always subjected to whatever the weather is,” Alice Stevens,
the education and public services manager at Oak Hill, said.
“To be able to have this inside option with air conditioning
for that type of event is a great backup plan.”
This lack of air-conditioning for events at Oak Hill has
been a problem in the past, according to Stevens, who has
worked weddings there for the past six years.
“It kind of grabs your heart when there are cakes melting
in the June heat in the back of the house.” She said. “It’s
so hot, there’s nowhere to go.”
Additionally, events may choose to provide alcohol at
this venue, which sets it apart from event venues on Berry
College campus and offering a more appealing option for
people who want to hold their wedding receptions at Berry.
Berry College alumni have played a large role in the construction
of the pavilion, Stevens said. The construction
began in May 2016 when alumni worked on the site during
Alumni Work Week. Cyndi Court, the vice president of
advancement at Berry College, said Al Christopher is one
alumnus that has contributed greatly to the pavilion. He has
crafted much of the wood himself.
“Al Christopher is truly an artist,” Court said. “He is
somebody that knows his craft.”
“It wasn’t crafted by a piece of machinery; it’s someone
who loves Berry enough and wanted to apply his craft to
something that would be uniquely special to Berry.” Said
Heida.
Heida said that the pavilion will also provide a needed
event space that does not interfere with student life.
“We are really fortunate in the number of events that
go on [at Berry] all the time,” Heida said. “It gives us yet
another place to do events at a place [people] love, but in a
way that doesn’t necessarily mean that students are inconvenienced
or dislocated from important places.”
This new building will also provide new job opportunities
for students at Berry, which is part of an effort to get
students more involved at Oak Hill.
“It just adds another reason to be so proud.” Said Stevens.
Pictured above: Construction on the Oak Hill Pavilion.
10 Funk
11