Farewell to the GCR, hello to ‘The Den’
Over the years, the location of social events at Aquinas College have been many and varied. Whether attending one of the infamous ‘Cellar Shows’ under Gleeson House, squeezing into R6 or partying in the Pond, Aquinas students have managed to have a good time no matter the location.
In recent times, the GCR, located near the Montefiore end of the College in the space which was once the College Kitchen, has been the scene of many a social gathering. No night was complete without someone falling asleep on the GCR couch, and no morning-after was complete without witnessing a weary S-Club mopping up a sticky floor. In the past few years however, the need for a location with a little more atmosphere for social gatherings became evident. This included an outdoor space where students could chill, chat and gather in a sheltered-outdoor setting.
At the end of 2025, a talented team of both staff and students got together to envision ‘The Den’ – a space with a night-club feel, but which also enabled students to gather and chat outdoors. Staff worked hard throughout summer to remove the old ceiling, leaving the exposed concrete beams for an industrial look, and new lighting was installed to provide ambience. The old kitchen exhaust fan was reconnected to enable air to better circulate, and a silver feature wall provided a backdrop for a glowing crimson LED wolf face.
To add character and bring a personal touch, the Pondshow bar was added, along with pennants and photographs of every victorious HTC team from the past few years. In a cheeky nod to the past, a ‘trophy cabinet’ was painted on the wall. The final result is a space where students can relax and socialise, whether watching a movie or celebrating an HTC performance in their own personalised Wolf Den.
