The Brickyard, Harrelson, the library and the Atrium are a central part of campus that is a crossroads for thousands of students each and every day, yet not always the most aesthetic nor the most modern area by any stretch.  Harrelson’s sinking structure beside the Brickyard needs improvement. Thankfully, N.C. State has made a commitment to improvement of the general area with renovations to surrounding classrooms and a major initiative within the library that has resulted in its transformation into an integral part of our community, providing services beyond being a depository for the majority of the University’s 3.6 million volumes in our library system. Lost in the hustle and glamour of the larger and somewhat more academically important buildings around the Brickyard area is the Atrium. Technically, it’s a part of the library and aside from the exterior renovations to improve the seating it’s barely been touched in years. The Atrium is the crossroads for thousands of students daily – so many that the Chick-fil-A that’s housed inside has been recognized as one of the top grossing college franchises in the nation. Rarely does anyone walk past the Atrium during the peak lunch hours and see an open seat  outside and the inside is just as packed with lines snaking around. Unfortunately, the interior is poorly planned for the amount of traffic, the bookstore on the inside is tucked away in a corner, the serving area is small and cramped and it’s impossible to try and find a seat at lunchtime unless you awkwardly hover around someone while they finish their lunch. Help is on the way in the near future thanks to some initiative by the University as they’ve added the Atrium to the agenda for a complete renovation. Plans include everything from adding about 25 percent more seating, almost doubling the serving area space, moving the bookstore to the front of the building so it’s more prominent and even adding some new dining options that would include healthier options than fast food. Relative to other future campus improvements this has the opportunity to be a bargain to students – and considering its constant heavy use, it will be worth the cost to the thousands of students who pass through there every day. From a campus community standpoint, it’s another good step the University is taking toward improving the Brickyard area.  Move ahead with the Atrium renovations as quickly as possible for an immediate impact on thousands of students on a daily basis.