After two years, renovations on the Student Union are coming to a close. To celebrate, the Union is hosting a week-long Union Renovation Celebration. The celebration has a schedule of activities encouraging students and faculty alike to help ring in the new era of the Student Union.
“We had a lot of help along the way, a lot of student support and a lot of student decision makers,” said Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, director of marketing and community relations at the Union. “We were really fortunate that we got to work with such amazing students every day, and that’s what makes our jobs here so fantastic.”
In early 2013, the K-State student body voted in favor of a referendum to renovate the K-State Student Union. After plans were approved, the renovations started in September 2015 to transform the outdated building into a modern space for students to study, eat or relax in between classes.
Jake Crutchfield, senior in management information systems, said he has always enjoyed what the Student Union represents on campus.
“It’s just always been a convenient place for [students] to come eat or meet other people at during the day, and now that the renovations are done, it just makes our campus look that much better,” Crutchfield said.
Taggart-Kagdis said a focus for the renovations was to improve the overall atmosphere of the building with the use of natural lighting using glass walling, supplying more comfortable study areas.
“The first time I walked into the new Union this year was like a night and day difference from what I remembered it being like when I was visiting my brother here a couple of years ago,” Joel Ash, freshman in entrepreneurship, said.
Each day this week, the Union is holding a different event or activity to help students celebrate the new renovations.
The events are scheduled as follows:
· Wednesday, October 11 “Lunchtime Lounge”: Free Call Hall ice cream, giveaways and a performance by John Rush from noon — 1 p.m. in the Union Courtyard.
· Thursday, October 12 “Union Carnival”: Come enjoy fun games, prizes and giveaways from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Union Courtyard.
· Friday, October 13 “Dedication Event”: Help celebrate the official dedication of the renovated Student Union. Prizes including certificates for $250 of textbooks, an iPad, and Beats headphones will be given away at 1 p.m. in the Union Courtyard.
· Saturday, October 14 “K-State Family Day”: Come see everything that the renovated Union has to offer with guided building tours from 9 a.m. – noon. Tours will begin at the Welcome Desk.
An exhibit of the renovation timeline including photos and facts will be on display all this week in the Union’s William T. Kemper Gallery.
Tag your pictures or memories on social media with #YourUnionCelebration to share how the student body of K-State is celebrating the new Student Union.
