The Holt Center is a tall building, and there’s several steps and floors to look up to on the way to class that one might pass a little, open corner tucked into the stairs without noticing its existence.

The stairs of the Holt Center feature a niche that a person can comfortably fit into, where they can rest their feet and take an elevated view of the floor below. No other building on campus features stairs with a similar niche, including the since-removed Cunningham Building.

Though the niche in the Holt Center may look like empty space, the spot has quite some history attached to it.

According to Charles “Chuck” Bloch, retired Delta instructor, the niche saw use by the late Ralph Prime, former Director of Choral Organizations and Handbell Choirs, as a conductor’s stand. During the Delta College Handbell Choir’s annual Christmas program, Prime would lead his performers down on the floor of the Holt Center. According to a Stockton’s Top Arts Recognition Award honorees information sheet provided by Delta, the ensemble grew to include a full five octave set and a Giant G2 for a total of 73 bells by 1983 after Prime’s fundraising efforts.

According to Bloch, the niche in the Holt Center stairs was also used for similar performances by an a cappella choir at Delta, as well as a string quartet.

Since then, the niche in the stairs has rarely seen use for performances or demonstrations in recent.

Collegian asked students on campus for their suggestions on what the niche could be used for.

“A little space where, maybe get a chair — make it closed off — so if anyone wants to have a minute to themselves and be alone. So yeah, they could have it there,” said Ema Fua, Associated Students of Delta College President. “If they want to have a mental breakdown, they can have it there.”

Fua also considered the niche’s potential as a speaking platform with the addition of a podium, and thought to get rid of the niche if it could not be repurposed.

Fatima Jauregui, a second-year Nutrition student at Delta, had never known about the niche in the Holt Center stairs prior to Collegian inquiry. When shown the niche, they shared similar opinions to Fua, and also considered its potential as a space for unhoused people to sleep in.

“I think this could be … good public speaking … give out a speech if people wanted to … Probably put something here, a pedal, stool or something,” Jauregui said.

Sidney Gurr, a first-year Forensic Science student at Delta, was previously invited to the niche in the stairs as a meeting space to talk with three of their friends. They complain about the niche’s lack of capacity for gathering.

“Considering how small it is and it’s so tucked away, I didn’t notice it until my friends brought me there,” Gurr said.

Adnar Thomasson, a second-year Psychology major at Delta, shared his thoughts on the niche, suggesting it could be used as a space for plants.

“I think it’s kinda pointless. I feel like it would be better use if it was like, even plants in the middle of it. It feels weird, tight and odd,” Thomasson said. “I feel like a planter with flowers is good enough honestly … I think a flowerbed would be great. It’d be nice, add some fresh air … Hell, maybe even like a small tree or something. Just something very blossoming.”

Lucas Messner, a first-year student at Delta, questioned what the niche could be used for.

“It’s a small space, so I’m not really sure what could be put there apart from like — a water fountain,” Messner said.

Yvio Pierre, a first-year student at Delta, suggested that the niche could be used to dispose of garbage, if a waste receptacle was placed there.