News Team Boulder

Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Jenna Levesque BioLounge

This semester has been a struggle for many students to find a good place to study that's quiet and relaxing. In response to much of the campus being under construction, the University Museum has responded by creating a new space for students to escape and enjoy a cup of coffee on the house. BioLounge, on the basement floor of the building, has been a major attraction for many of those students looking for a new get-away from the hustle and bustle of the UMC and the library.

"The idea was to create a space for students to hang out, grab a cup of coffee, study and work, and be a part of and immersed in an exhibit," said Museum Director Patrick Kociolek.

The cafe features electronic media and display cases that feature the work of CU faculty and staff. The museum plans to change those displays every few weeks, making each visit to the museum refreshingly diverse. Intertwined in the exhibits are plenty of comfy couches and seating for students to bring a book or sit with a friend, making it an attractive destination for just about anyone.

Students are hearing about BioLounge left and right as the museum promotes their new addition to a once sparsely visited building. Flyers around the campus along with notices in the student bulletin have raised awareness and created hype around the new destination.

The cafe has been open for several weeks now and has created quite a buzz around the museum. "Before it opened we were averaging about twenty students per week and now we get forty to fifty per day," said Visitor Services Director Kory Katsimtalis. "You see all different kinds of uses too. People are coming down for the coffee, people are studying, people are holding office hours."

With the success of the lounge, the museum plans to keep it around for good. It will follow the regular building hours and is open to anyone interested in exploring the wonders of mother nature, or those just craving a hot cup of coffee or tea.

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