Campus Canopies

The University of Kentucky is trying to help its students and faculty avoid the three C's:

    - Closed spaces

    - Crowds

    - Contact

Canopy Between Patterson and Whitehall

One of the ways the university is attempting to do this is by placing canopies all over campus. These canopies are huge, white tents tied to many cement blocks to keep them from moving or blowing over or away. They each have tables placed underneath with a specific amount of chairs to regulate the amount of people able to fit under them. They are scattered all around for campus for the use of students and staff, and their purpose is to provide outside spaces for people to work or gather in. The canopies allow for students to be outside more because they can help block weather such as rain or the hot sun that would usually drive people inside to work. The canopies are also specifically placed outside around dining halls and restaurants to give people places to sit and eat their food, especially since seating inside is very limited.

 

Canopy Outside Student Center 

Canopy #2 At Student Center

Canopy #3 At Student Center

These canopies each have a sign placed in them to remind students to follow social distancing protocols, wear masks, and complete other tasks to help keep themselves and everyone around them safe. The university went through and routed WiFi into the canopies, so students who are on Zooms or are trying to complete other school work has good internet connection.

 

Canopy Outside of Lewis Hall and the 90

These canopies are a great temporary way to encourage students to stay outside, but I worry what will occur when it begins to get colder. Where are people going to be able to eat their food? I think that we will begin to see groups moving inside to eat, which could cause problems during height hours. For now, the canopies are just one of the many smart solutions the university is using to stop or slow the spread of Covid and to reach the ultimate goal of keeping the students on campus.