Students share their perspectives on the Union renovation plans for this summer.
This summer, the bustling activity of students and visitors frequenting the Union will come to a brief stop.
From early May through mid-August, the first floor of MSU’s traditional gathering space will be renovated as part of a $2.4 million project approved by the Board of Trustees in January. Guests already are seeing evidence of changes now as some of the Union Central Store shelves aren’t being restocked.
“We really respect the iconic feel of the Union,” said Angela Brown, director of MSU Auxiliary Resources for Residential and Hospitality Services. “However, in order to keep up with our guests’ and students’ use of the space, we wanted to update it.”
The Central Store will close April 15 with some items moving to the Spartan Spirit Shop until its May 20 close, she said. The post office also is scheduled to close April 30 to eventually house the existing Biggby Coffee.
The summer project is phase one of an expected four phases, Brown said.
When funds are available, officials would like to renovate the Union’s other floors.
These initial preparations will make way for renovations to move services front and center, Brown said.
Food areas are slated to be renovated, a new Sparty’s Express location is expected to be built and a welcome center with mailing services is planned to be a focal point of the building, located in the current Biggby Coffee location, said Tami Kuhn, manager of the university activity office. The renovations also will include updates to the existing study lounge.
“We are trying to update the space as best we can … to get the most bang for the buck,” she said, adding although the building will be active during the summer, only the MSU Federal Credit Union and the Dairy Store will be open.
In addition to the updated storefronts, the floor’s interior is expected to be renovated with new carpeting, paint and furniture. Brown said other university student unions were looked at for inspiration to create spaces for meeting with friends and studying for classes.
“We’ve been doing our homework for several years,” she said. “We took a road trip to Ohio State University and said, … ‘Wow.’”
Interior design senior Britney Reinkensmeyer said she frequents the Union about twice a week, and although she’s graduating this semester, she’d like to see a printing and copying center put into the planning process because the center at the Main Library isn’t enough for student demand.
“I’m all for the renovations and seeing the building updated,” she said.
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