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The University of �޻���ֱ�� at Lafayette’s new Student Union has quickly become a bustling campus hub.

Just ask Andre Steckler, a freshman from Patterson, �޻���ֱ�� majoring in petroleum engineering. “I like that it’s right in the middle of things. It’s right outside the front of my dorm,” he said.

Steckler lives in Bonin Hall, one of three residence halls that sit across Boucher Street from the Student Union.

The new, two-story building, with large arches spanning its main entrance on McKinley Street, opened this spring. It replaced a structure that was built in 1971.

Dawn Miller, the Student Union’s director of business services, said the new building, which “we like to call the U, is the living room of campus.”  

It’s anchored by a large bookstore that contains everything from textbooks and class supplies to Ragin’ Cajuns apparel and gear.

Food is also a draw. There’s Cypress Lake Dining Room, where diners can get a view of the lake via a bank of glass windows. Or, they can eat outside next to the water, at tables topped with umbrellas.

The U’s restaurants—the Brew café and coffee shop, McAlister’s Deli, and Sidelines—offer a range of meals and snacks, from soups and salads, to burgers and plate lunches.

Another plus is services that are housed in the Union. “Students like being able to pay their tuition at the cashier center, or mail a letter at the post office, on their way to class,” Miller said.

The new Student Union is home to many student organizations, including the Student Government Association, and the University Program Council. Some University offices and departments, such as the Office of International Affairs, and the Study Abroad Program, are housed there, too.

The building, which is about 40 percent larger than the previous structure, leaves plenty of room for doing business, thanks to more conference and meeting rooms.

Gray Bekurs, the University’s director of commercial real estate, said the new U was designed to be versatile. It contains about 30,000 square feet of space, including the Atchafalaya Ballroom, for corporate gatherings, private receptions, and other events.

“The football team held its signing day in the ballroom, and it was a wonderful event. Hosting these types of events in the heart of campus is something we just couldn’t do before,” he said.

Day-to-day operations, according to Miller, also are improved. An auxiliary services division handles business operations, while Student Affairs coordinates programming for students, she explained.

“With the size and scope of the U, it’s important for Student Affairs to be able to concentrate on our students.”

Heidie Lindsey, director of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, said the number of students who visit the Union has increased “substantially” since the new U opened.

“And it’s, more often than not, purposeful traffic, students visiting our department to find out about programs for students, for example,” she said.

In Spring 2003, students approved a $55 per semester fee dedicated to a new Union. In 2005, they OK’d an additional $20 per semester fee.

Renovation and expansion work began in late 2012. The LeMoine Co. was the contractor, while Architects Southwest of Lafayette coordinated planning and design. Architects Southwest has been involved with other campus projects, including the renovation of Edith Garland Dupré Library and expansion of the Alumni Center.

The Student Union project included a commitment to sustainable design and building practices guided by the University’s Master Plan for development and growth. The plan includes provisions for campus structures, roads, signage, perimeter developments, and sports facilities.

Earlier this year, the Union became the city’s first major public building recognized for environmental sustainability through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. LEED recognition is earned based on several factors, including types of materials used in construction, recycling, and efficient energy usage.

Recycling efforts during the renovation and expansion project also played a role. More than 77 percent of the debris generated during demolition was recycled. The recycled material amounted to more than 440 tons of metal and 11,504 tons of concrete.

There’s also plenty of green space, including a large area where the recently razed Guillory, Lafayette and Vermilion halls once stood. The outdated buildings, near the intersection of Hebrard Boulevard and Boucher Street, were recently torn down to clear the way for green space.

Several Opening Weekend activities that will showcase the new Student Union are planned for Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12. They include a free open house, a reUnion and dinner reception, and a Zydeco all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Diners can catch a shuttle from the Union to Cajun Field back for the first home football game.

View a schedule of activities.