Student Union face lift set for November

The university is expecting major changes for the University Student Union as it begins construction on the improvement project beginning in November.

Entitled "Building Better, Brick by Brick," the project looks to advance all aspects of the Student Union to better adapt to the needs of the campus.

The project was voted on by the students back in 1994, with the main goal of building additional facilities for students to use for group meetings, studying, relaxing and personal needs.

"This process will depend on student input," said Student Union Director Eugene Minter. "Students will be the key to how the Union will look in future years."

The USU has created a committee that is specifically geared towards the advancement of the Student Union, and it includes a majority of students on each level contributing ideas and input about the program. Monthly meetings are held by the USU Improvement Group at which time subcommittees report on facilities, fund development, finance and marketing aspects of the program.

Program coordinator Sylvana Zermeno said the project will bring it up to date.

"The Union will look amazing," Zermeno said.

One of the projects being built is the Student Club & Organizations Center which will offer approximately 45 office spaces for school groups to be centered at. "Campus organizations utilize the Union extensively for meetings and programs," said USU scheduling supervisor Frieda Fisher. "In many cases, rooms are booked a full year in advance."

A Commuter Student Services Center and a call for expanded lounge spaces are also expected in the project.

Along with these advancements is the arrival of nationally branded food and service vendors, which include King Taco, Subway and McDonald's. Additional services that will be added are lockers, study carrels, ATMs, electrical outlets, an information center and a message center.

An enclosed exterior escalator will also be included. According to Zermeno, the elevated walkways being added to the Union will provide students with an interesting new way of traveling from floor to floor.

The $17 million Improvement Project is scheduled to be completed in June 1998, but certain areas of the Student Union will remain open during construction.

The project will follow a basic phasing schedule which will keep the construction on track and allow particular floors to allow continual assistance students.

Phase one of the project calls for the construction of the first floor, relocating most services and vendor to the second floor. The third floor construction is the second phase, but unlike the first floor some areas of the third floor will remain in operation.

The third and final phase is construction of the second floor in which there will be periods when certain areas will be non-operational.

According to Zermeno, the USU Improvement Group will try its best to keep as many vendors and facilities in the Union functional for student use during construction.

Those interested in the most recent updates on the improvement project should call (310) 985-4354.