Eastern Michigan University Student Center

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Eastern Michigan University
Student Center
EMUstudentCenterlogo.jpg
Alternative namesStudent Center
General information
TypeStudent union
Architectural stylePost Modern
LocationYpsilanti, Michigan, USA
Address900 Oakwood St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197 [3]
Groundbreaking2004
Construction started2006
Cost$33 million (2006)[1]
LandlordDirector Ann Klaes [2]
Technical details
Floor count4
Floor area181,000 sq ft[4]
Design and construction
ArchitectBurt Hill Kosar Rittelmann[5]
Main contractorTurner Construction[4]
DesignationsKiva Room, LAN Gaming Center
Other information
Parkingyes
Website
www.emich.edu/studentcenter/

The Eastern Michigan University Student Center is Eastern Michigan University's student union. Since its opening in 2006 the EMU Student Center replaced McKenny Union as the student hub of campus life.[6] The building is simply referred to as "The Student Center" by students faculty and staff. In 2017 the Student Center was named the number one student union in the country by the College Rank. The building is located in University Park near the Rec/IM and Library. It is also the location of the EMU Bookstore, a 24/7 computer lab, two art galleries, various offices and Admissions.[7] The Student Center also includes the Kiva Room.[8]

History[]

For the history of McKenny Union, see McKenny Hall.
McKenny Hall

Eastern Michigan University's first Student Union was McKenny Union, first proposed by President Charles McKenny in 1924. McKenny Union opened in 1931, and was the first student union on the campus of a teachers' college.[9] In the early 2000s, EMU began to look at a possible expansion and renovation of McKenny Union. The University found that constructing a new student center and renovating McKenny would be cheaper. The firm of Burt Hill was hired to design the new building[10] with Turner Construction as the builder,[4] and in 2004, work began on the former site of Pine Grove Apartments and tennis courts. The building officially opened on November 17, 2006. Since its opening, the EMU Student Center uses the slogan "Centered on You!". Following its opening, the Student Center created "a new hub of activity on north side of campus".[11] Once the Student Center opened, McKenny Union closed for renovations and reopened as McKenny Hall. Despite criticism from some faculty members about the expense, the opening of the new student center was considered one of the high points of John A. Fallon's troubled two-year tenure as president of EMU.[12] A poll of campus community members found that the student center was considered one of EMU's top ten improvements between 2002 and 2012.[13]

Facility[]

Student center view of the east side

The building offers student services, a Chase Bank branch,[14] dining facilities, meeting rooms, two art galleries, administrative offices, student organization offices, an auditorium, a 24-hour computer lab, a Kiva Room, bookstore and a gaming center.[7][15] The cost of the Student Center is estimated around $40.5 million (USD).[15] The building's architectural style is Post Modern. The building is approximately 181,000 square feet (16,800 m2) in size.[15] The building is located in University Park near the Rec/IM and Library. During the buildings construction a lake was made adjacent to the Student Center. This completed the area known as "University Park". Outside the building to the south is a small reconstructed prairie and a bridge.[15] The Student Center is home to offices such as Campus Life, VISION, a box office, Service EMU, and Admissions.[7] The Student Center was the home of the first LAN Gaming Center (Savage Geckos); purchased by the university in Spring 2008 and renamed E-Zone.

Current food vendors in the Student Center include sites run by EMU's Dining Services, Smashburger and Starbucks.[16] Past vendors include Taco Bell, KFC, Sbarro, Panda Express, Wendy's and Subway. In recent years EMU has moved away from chain restaurants to sites run and owned by the university.

The facility is also heavily used for local and state conferences.[17][18][19][20][21] In addition, due to the building's design the facility has hosted several "green" environmental conferences in the facility.[22][23] Beyond this due to the school's aviation program, the school has hosted several aviation conferences.[24][25]

Kiva Room[]

The Student Center also includes the Kiva Room, a round, 360-degree room patterned after spaces used in Native American cultures, on the north end of the third floor.[26] The Kiva Room is used as a meeting space, for collaboration, or for musical purposes.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Eastern Michigan Univ Student Center", Reed Construction Data, retrieved 22 March 2012
  2. ^ "SC Director". Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
  3. ^ "Eastern Michigan University Student Center", Metro Times, archived from the original on 9 July 2012, retrieved 22 March 2012
  4. ^ a b c Eastern Michigan University, Student Center, retrieved 22 March 2012
  5. ^ "SC designer".[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "EMU Student Center: About Us". Eastern Michigan University. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Student Center Offices". Student Center Offices. emich.edu. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  8. ^ a b "EMU student Center kiva room". EMU student Center kiva room. Emich.edu. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Charles McKenny Hall Dedicated Today", The Ypsilanti Daily Press, 24 October 1931, retrieved 12 February 2011
  10. ^ Student Centers: The Heart of Student Life, Burt Hill, retrieved 22 March 2012, For example, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) commissioned Burt Hill to build a new student center on their campus.
  11. ^ Larcom, Geoff (2008-08-31), "Eastern Michigan University officials offer bonus to boost on-campus living", Ann Arbor News, retrieved 22 March 2012
  12. ^ "Recalling John Fallon's tenure", Ann Arbor News, 16 July 2007, retrieved 22 March 2012, The new EMU Student Center opened in November, replacing outdated McKenny Union. Many students and staff applauded the opening of the union, but some faculty members said the money would have been better used for academic programs.
  13. ^ "Eastern Michigan University ranks top 10 campus improvements", The Ypsilanti Courier, 19 February 2012, retrieved 22 March 2012, The opening of the student center, Ethos Week and aesthetic improvements to campus are among the top 10 improvements at Eastern Michigan University over the last 10 years, according to a poll of EMU faculty, staff and students.
  14. ^ Stafford, Katrease (August 30, 2011). "EMU campus switches bank". Eastern Echo. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d "EMU student Center Facility". EMU student Center Facility. emich.edu. Retrieved 23 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Student Center Dining Options". Student Center Dining Options. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Ann Arbors Arts Alliance conference". Ann Arbors Arts Alliance conference. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Joint michigan education conference june 2012". Joint michigan education conference june 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Conference on race". Conference on race. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Michigan school counselor association conference march 2012". Michigan school counselor association conference march 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  21. ^ "Convergence conference 2009". Convergence conference 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  22. ^ "Green Conference held at EMU". Green Conference held at EMU. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  23. ^ "Remodel Green conference". Remodel Green conference. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  24. ^ "aviation conference". aviation conference. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  25. ^ New Flight School Lands In Mid-Michigan, WLNS, 6 July 2011, retrieved 9 July 2011
  26. ^ "New EMU Student Center celebrates grand opening". Focus EMU Online. Eastern Michigan University. 7 November 2006. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
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