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New student center will become hub for campus life

For the past two years, construction progress of the exterior of the new student center has been front and center for all to see. The planned, 181,000-square-foot mecca for student activities and programming is 84 percent complete and is expected to open Nov. 6.

WINDOW VIEW: Work continues inside the new
student center, which is expected to open Nov. 6.
Here, a contractor works on the ceiling near the east
side of the 181,000-square-foot building. Photo by Randy
Mascharka

However, it is detailed plans for the inside of the facility that have recently taken shape as blueprints for each floor of the building were unveiled at an Aug. 9 meeting in McKenny Union's Guild Hall.

The $40.4 million project will include a dining marketplace (dubbed the Marche Food Court), bookstore, retail space, a TCF bank, a ticket office for the Convocation Center, a game room and one meeting room on the first floor.

Follett will run the bookstore, which will be 13,000 square feet. EMU apparel and general merchandise, a large general books
area, a lounge with a coffee shop, and the University Computer Store. The square footage also includes support spaces for storage, offices, etc.

Some of the food vendors expected to occupy the building include Subway, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Sbarro and Panda Express. The food court will sit approximately 450 people.

The second floor will include the Admissions Welcome Center, Service EMU, Student Judicial Services, Academic Service-Learning, a 24-hour computer lab, a 650-seat ballroom (that can be divided into two, smaller rooms), a 250-seat auditorium, coffee shop, galleries, lounges, relaxing spaces for students and two meeting rooms.

"The auditorium has a wonderful sound system. We can present films, TV shows, presentations and Web cams," said Carlos Costa, director of the new student center. "There is a lot of flexibility to support your activities."

The third floor will house the Center for Student Involvement, 10 meeting rooms, and offices for Student Government, Diversity Programs, Campus Life, VISION, Event Planning and the building administration. The largest meeting room includes seating for 325 in theater style or 208 for roundtable seating. There also will be a round Kiva room, akin to those used in Native American culture.