The campus community showed up in droves to the grand opening of the newly renovated Multicultural Center space on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union on Jan. 29.
“The turnout today is amazing. I am ecstatic that so many people are here and we are so happy to be back in this space in the Union,” said Adrain Smith, director of the Multicultural Center. “In the first week that we have been here the things I have heard consistently are ‘Ooooh, Ahhhh, and Wow!’
The renovation of the MC entails a comprehensive reimagining of the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union, involving new carpet, paint, cabinetry, furniture, and detailing.
The former University Programs Theater has been transformed into a wonderful open conversation lounge. The MC kitchen, a hub of activity and events, has been expanded and upgraded. Furniture has been updated, and the MC welcome desk is now near the central Union staircase to help with visibility and wayfinding.
“I’m excited that the space is open again,” said Lynda Nguyen, a junior interior architect major from Bentonville.
Nguyen was sitting in the conversation lounge with her friend Brian Quach, a senior majoring in computer science and business from Little Rock. They are members of the Vietnamese Student Association and held their group meetings in the MC and have been missing the space since it closed for renovation.
“I think this is so cool that they opened it up,” she said about the conversation lounge. “It is the first thing I noticed. It is a really nice intimate extension of the space.”
Quach agreed. “It is very noticeable and colorful and has a nice open feel. It’s almost like a speakeasy.”
The conversation lounge is a striking change from what the space looked like in the past.
“The conversation pit is an ADA-accessible zone with wrap-around cushion seating offering students a space to socialize and make new friends. The backlit wall lighting and the sunken level of the space invites organic conversation and connection,” said Sophia Ordaz, cultural programming coordinator for the MC.
Another notable feature of the renovated space is expansion of the kitchen. “Since the kitchen is the heart of the MC, it’s expansion significantly helps us amplify the welcoming atmosphere we pride ourselves in embodying,” Ordaz said.
Ashton Laurent, a senior music education major from Pine Bluff said he has been coming to the MC regularly for the past three years. He was sitting in the kitchen talking with friends during the opening.
“I like coming here because this is a place where you can unapologetically be yourself,” Laurent said. “I have made a lot of lasting friends in this space. The new layout says there is something new and special about it. It is open and beautiful and modern.”
During the event the MC staff lined up and cut the ribbon to officially open the space. Staff gave tours to students and members of the campus community interested in learning more.
After taking a group of students around the space, Izzo Ahmed, cultural programming coordinator for the MC, stopped in the kitchen for a moment to catch his breath before giving another tour.
“The word I would use to capture everything today is ‘full,’” Ahmed said. “We are full of emotion and full of joy. The ribbon cutting was beautiful, the food was all so good. And it is a full circle moment coming back here!”
View more photos in the gallery below.
