Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Universities Offer Warming Stations to Those Without Power

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/18/21

A series of winter storms blew through the U.S. this week, bringing record-breaking low temperatures and leaving millions without electricity. In response, many universities are setting up warming stations to give both students and the community at large a place to take refuge against the cold.

Texas A&M University welcomed individuals and families from College Station to Reed Arena, the home site of its men’s and women’s basketball teams. The university noted that, upon opening, there would be “minimal amenities” available—that is, no cots, food, or warm beverages. The facility was warmed to 70 degrees and was expected to remain open until at least noon on Friday, Feb. 19. The university strongly recommended bringing masks to wear while indoors, and they stated that social distancing procedures would still be put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Warming centers

The University of Texas at San Antonio offered up the JPL Library and the ground floor of its Main Building. It welcomed students, faculty, and staff to set up camp, recharge any necessary devices, and access the WiFi network between Wednesday, Feb. 17, and Friday, Feb. 19. The university did note that because of the campus closure and COVID-related concerns, the warming stations would not be available overnight.

Meanwhile, Texas State University made use of its campus shuttles as “warming buses” for students living on and off campus. They stationed the buses at various places on or near campus, cautioning students that the temporary shelters were for daytime use only. The university continued to deploy new buses at new locations into Wednesday evening. All campus COVID-19 protocols, including mask-wearing and physical distancing, remained mandatory.

Eastern Kentucky University opened the EKU Student Recreation Center to university employees, students, and their immediate family members from the same household. The warming station is available during normal hours of operation through at least Sunday, Feb. 21. Again, all coronavirus-related precautions remain in place.

More warming centers continue to open as the need arises. Check with your local college campus or local news stations if you and your family need a place to keep warm.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Acquires VPS Architecture

    Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has acquired VPS Architecture, according to a news release. The move will help strengthen Wold’s education and public-sector design expertise, industries in which both companies have strong pre-existing ties and relationships.

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.