Last spring, the Falcon’s Nest, located in Friends Select’s basement, underwent renovations led by Sophia Le ‘25 and Friends Select CFO Matt Rosen, with more upgrades planned for the future.

The Falcon’s Nest has long served as a social hub for members of the FSS community, yet many students, like Sophia, agree that its basement setting could be enhanced with more vibrant furniture and a lively atmosphere. “In sophomore year I was always eating down there for lunch, but it was just really a dingy kind of basement,” Sophia said. Sophia initiated the project by contacting faculty members Pam McCabe and Matt Rosen with ideas for a redesign. “It wasn’t really anything concrete, but then Matt made it into a reality,” she added. 

The ongoing renovations aim to foster a more inclusive environment that reflects the diverse creative activities across various departments. Incorporating the arts, sports, and theater was crucial to Sophia’s vision of the project. “There are so many students who go down there to work and create projects, and it kind of seems wrong for the basement to not be representative of that,” Sophia said. 

Before renovations, The Falcon Nest’s environment was dominated by a faded green palette and minimal furnishings, and Sophia expressed interest in updating and giving the Falcon’s Nest a more modern look. “When I was drawing things out, I looked at a lot of colleges and their facilities,” Sophia said, noting the old Athletic Hall of Fame. “I was looking at colleges with yellow and black as their school mascot, so I think Missouri and Iowa were really the true inspiration,” she added. 

According to Matt Rosen, some new additions to the Falcon’s Nest include better lighting, multipurpose flooring, new paint, a new trophy case, and a revamped Athletic Hall of Fame. “The biggest improvement, though, is the new furniture, which has created a better social space for students,” Matt said. “We wanted people to be able to spend time in the Falcon’s Nest and not feel like they were in a gross basement as well as want to be there,” he added.

The renovation process will continue, with a mosaic installation designed by the FSS Art Club, set for completion by spring 2025. “The Art Club’s overarching aesthetic goal was to honor the growth and transition that students experience during their time here at FSS,” Max Budnick, faculty advisor of the club, said. The mosaic will feature a small nest with baby falcons evolving into a full-grown falcon looking back from a tree, symbolizing the transformative journey of FSS students.

The Falcon’s Nest renovations have not only revitalized a long-neglected space but also symbolize the collaborative spirit and creative growth of the FSS community. According to Sophia, “That was the heart of it.”