The Arkansas Union has seen many updates and changes in its 50 years of service to campus, but upcoming projects will have significant impacts on student-facing spaces.
Starting later this month, the Arkansas Union will undertake two major construction projects that will help make spaces better for students and visitors. The Multicultural Center on the fourth floor and the Student Affairs suite on the A6 floor will close for the rest of the calendar year while they are redesigned to be more welcoming and functional.
“The Multicultural Center and Student Affairs Suites are critical student-facing areas, and the need for well-designed, student-focused spaces continues to increase with the larger campus population,” said Rob Stagni, director of the Arkansas Union. “These projects will solve some facility concerns, make spaces more conducive to student use, and help people find their way through the building.”
The Multicultural Center is getting a significant facelift and expansion. When it reopens it will take up most of the fourth floor of the Union, where it is currently located. The former University Programs Theater, after decades of service as a movie theater and classroom, will be transformed into an open conversation lounge. The kitchen inside the Multicultural Center, a hub of its activity and events, will expand. Furniture in the space is getting a big update, and the MC Welcome Desk will move out toward to help with visibility and wayfinding for guests.
“The Multicultural Center’s renovations will enhance our capacity to cultivate spaces for meaningful dialogue, community building, and shared experiences. These improvements bolster The MC’s capacity to be a destination of radical welcoming rather than just being a place on campus,” said Adrain Smith, director of The MC. “It is a hub that fosters a deep sense of belonging and provides support vital to student success. With expanded space and resources, the Center is well-positioned to effectively fulfill its mission and further contribute to the vibrant and inclusive fabric of our campus community.”
Changes to the A6 floor will improve visibility and use of the space home of Student Activities, New Student & Family Programs, Student Affairs Communications, Associated Student Government, and Registered Student Organizations, making programs more welcoming and easier to find. The central part of the floor, above the Union Living Room, will be opened up to encourage informal student gatherings. A centralized welcome desk in the space will bring guests into the location and help them connect to opportunities and staff. Finally, more meeting rooms will help assuage the overflowing need for gathering space within the Union.
“The reimagined space will provide an opportunity for registered student organizations and student government to connect and belong,” said Lori Lander, assistant vice chancellor for strategic projects & initiatives. “The design of the project creates open spaces to collaborate – two large conference rooms, two small breakout rooms, informal seating and tables, and a kitchen.”
During the project, these offices will all relocate to other spaces in the Union and on campus.
The Multicultural Center will move to the Garland Avenue shops next to the University Bookstore. The MC will continue to host signature events in and around the Arkansas Union and hold pop-up events at various locations across campus during the semester because the temporary space is not configured for large-scale programming. Staff will be available to meet with students in their temporary offices and in other locations around campus.
The offices of Student Activities, Associated Student Government, New Student & Family Programs, and University Programs will all move down to the second floor of the Union, into the former home of the Treasurer’s Office. Student Affairs Communications and UA Productions will temporarily relocate to the Housing main office on Douglas.
All relocated offices will continue their activities, programs, and initiatives during construction – though some events will temporarily be held in different spaces. Additionally, as with any construction project in an open building, the Union urges caution and attention when traversing around the fourth floor, as temporary hallways will be set up to continue access to key spaces.
Most of these offices will be moved into their temporary spaces by March 15. Follow these social media accounts for ongoing information and updates: @uark_mc ; @uarknsfp ; @uarkgetinvolved ; @uparkansas ; @uarkstudents
This construction project is a joint effort of all the included entities, who have had several meetings and feedback sessions on the new spaces. The project architect, Hufft, has previously consulted on new and renovated spaces in the Arkansas Union and around campus, including the Union Food Court, the UREC Playing Fields, and the soon-to-be-completed I3R Research Building. The project contractors, Clark, anticipate the renovation to be completed in December 2024, allowing for the displaced units to move into their “new” homes in January 2025.
