Someone call Martha Stewart: The new furniture in the KPU Cedar lounge is not a vibe

The most iconic student lounge was in Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Cedar building — a place that was once a sacred haven.

The red of the Tim Hortons meshed effortlessly with KPU’s signature crimson and grey colours, creating the perfect backdrop for countless games of cards and chats with friends.

Now, it is swamped with, well … swampy green-coloured sofas and a couple of neat dining tables. 

To give you the backstory, March 17 marked the day of desertion — when the furniture, which used to be so proudly scattered around, suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a lonely chair and a single forlorn table. A tragic monument to the good old times.

Next was the four-day drought. The Cedar lounge suffered, the footsteps too loud and the voices seemed muffled. All the students had moved away to the Spruce student area, where all the beloved furniture now lay.

The Cedar lounge being empty that one week made a lot of students feel like they had lost a beloved spot. After all, it ticked off all the boxes.

Sunlight? Check. A place for solo seating? Check. A place for groups? Check. An ample amount of power outlets? Check. Open late for post-evening-class hangouts (unlike Birch and Grassroots Cafe)? Check. Close to the bus stop? Check. Easy to find snacks nearby? Check. 

Aesthetically pleasing furniture? Check — or at least it used to be.

On March 21, the new furniture was installed and showcased to the KPU community. My immediate two thoughts were, “It’s giving Shrek” and “Oh, my God! I’m never standing in line at Tim’s again.”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Shrek and think he’s a great ogre, but maybe he should lay off influencing the colour scheme choices of those responsible for deciding new furniture at KPU. 

The March 14 KPU Announcements email, in which this interior design change was foretold, stated, “The update will introduce various seating options to support solo study and collaborative activities, creating a more inviting and versatile space for students and staff.”

Unfortunately, only half of that truly came to fruition. The new furniture consists of similar rectangular sofas in different colours, two dining tables each with comfy armchair-style seats, and three huge semicircular sofas in swampy green and grey — all of which appeal to groups of students.

I find there are only two tables that are good for solo study, compared to the previous four. Also, these tables have armchairs so comfy you might even fall asleep rather than get any work done. Two of them even spin — try stopping yourself!

Before, there were two sets of grey smaller sofas facing each other right across the Tim Hortons, which could accommodate about a dozen people without making folks in line for coffee feel awkward. They have since been replaced with one, of the three, semicircular sofas.

This sofa faces the Tim’s, where every single person in line now squirms under the sight and perceived judgement of whichever group is perched on the sofa.

But not every person can be happy sitting on that sofa, either. Being forced to stare in the direction of sleep-deprived students with a caffeine addiction isn’t exactly the best view to gaze upon in between classes.

The thing is, you can’t even glance away! The Tim’s line is right there, taunting you, daring you to join in while your bank account screams in agony and fear.
 
The Cedar lounge’s makeover was a bittersweet reminder that change may not always be for the better, especially when it involves swampy green sofas and awkward Tim’s stares.

But hey, at least we get to study in comfy armchairs … until we doze off.