All you need to know about CSULB's Student Union renovation project

Published August 19, 2025
By Richard Chang Campus Update

Things might look a little different this fall semester at Cal State Long Beach, but don’t worry, everything you know and love about The Beach is still within reach.

First, and perhaps most obvious: The University Student Union is closed. The building is going through a major renovation and expansion that will transform the heart of the CSULB campus into a dynamic, wired, student-centered space, carefully designed to meet the needs of the next generations of students. The official reopening is scheduled for August 2028.

New Student Union, market passageway

Next, the Friendship Walk in the middle of campus – or a portion of it – will open on Aug. 22. The East Stairs will be open in time for the first day of classes – Aug. 25 – connecting upper and lower campus in a renovation project that will create enhanced ADA pathways and make the whole iconic staircase more in tune with nature and more beautiful. 

Friendship Walk view from northwest stairs

There will also be clearly identified walkways aside the West Turnaround (where the “GO BEACH” letters are) and along West Campus Drive, with permanent guard rails to protect pedestrians from vehicle traffic. Another walkway will be to the east of the Central Plant, along the East Turnaround and parallel with East Campus Drive. Accessible paths will include the Central Plant elevator and wind alongside the construction zone where the Friendship Walk is being completed.

University Student Union detour map

“We are pleased to share that most of Friendship Walk will be open on the first day of school, ensuring there is pedestrian access for the campus community,” said Sylvana Cicero, assistant vice president and chief operating officer of Student Auxiliary Enterprises, which comprises ASI and Beach Shops.

The Friendship Walk stairs will fully reopen in December, according to university planners. A new “Rock Walk” organized by the Earth Science Department will be incorporated into the environs, allowing majoring students to make scientific measurements across different specimens, and educating the public – and elementary students – on different types of rocks formed in distinct ways.  

Food 

There will plenty of food options available throughout campus:  

  • The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will be open through Sept. 19. Only exterior access is available.
  • The Nugget and its adjoining patio will be open through Dec. 15.  
  • Beach Kitchen will be open through December.
  • The Nugget Express kitchen trailer should be available in the fall, along with several food trucks.  
  • The Farmers Market will extend to four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
  • Fooda Pop-Up will be located at the Bookstore and Coastal Coffee, a full-service coffee vendor, will eventually be installed on the College of Business lawn.  
  • Hot food vending machines, like InstaChef, will be placed around campus.  

  • Anyone on campus can eat at one of the residential dining halls for a flat fee. The Beach Community Meal Bundle is new for 2025-26, allowing commuting students, faculty and staff members to eat in the residential dining halls with tiered plans that can be used anytime of year and repurchased as desired.

    Parkside Dining Interior
    Interior of the Parkside Dining Hall, which will be open to those on campus this fall.

For a complete list of food options and their locations, visit the Future U Food Relocation page.  

Relocation of services

Peterson Hall 1 will serve as home for most student-facing services: Associated Students, Inc., Student Affairs, student government, 22 West Media, Beach Pride Events, Sustain U, the Puvungna Resource Center and the Men’s Success Initiative.

The Laurén Chalmers ’83 Beach Pantry will be located at Student Health Services. It will find its new home in the renovated USU, along with the student Cultural Resource Centers and most of the aforementioned services.  

The Esports Lounge will be relocated in PH1 while the University Library is being renovated.

For a full list of relocations, visit the Future U Resource Relocation page.  

Inside the Student Union  

Student Union demolition and abatement will continue through December or January. The project is necessary because critical infrastructure systems of the 50-plus-year-old USU – including plumbing, electrical and mechanical – had reached the end of their lifespan, Cicero said. 

In place of the old University Dining Plaza, a two-story addition will feature a new ballroom and food hall. It will connect to the existing structure along the west façade, as well as through a common courtyard with an overhead canopy.

New University Student Union, terrace

Construction on the USU and its expansion will start in February. For updates on construction at the USU, visit The Future U’s Construction Updates page.  

To learn more about what the new, $315 million University Student Union is going to look like, read the renovation announcement from March, or visit the official ASI Future U homepage.