money ‘The living room of campus’: FSU’s new student union is finally open
It’s been a long time coming, but Florida State University’s new student union building is officially open, despite final touches that still need to be added.
What started off as a $100 million project set to be complete by fall 2020 turned out to be a project costing nearly $150 million opening in time for the fall semester with classes starting Monday.
The modern brick structure is located off North Woodward Avenue.
“I always thought it would be nice to go somewhere central and just talk to everyone, but we haven’t had that kind of space for the past four years,” FSU student Ashanti Grace said, sitting in the second floor of the union. “But now, there's actually a place for everyone to commune, be together and get involved.”
Grace, 22, is a third-year student from Orlando, majoring in creative writing. She initially attended FSU in 2018 before taking a break and returning in 2020.
Like many other students inside, she sat with a few friends at one of the dining tables while others roamed the sprawling four-story structure accented by impressive windowpanes at every turn.
It offers bowling to billiards, five restaurants, art centers and lounging areas.
“There are lots of memories to be made in these walls, I’m sure,” said Division of Student Affairs Marketing Director Alice Maxwell during a recent tour.
A look inside FSU's student union
The new union replaces the original iconic structure built in 1952, which was expanded in 1964. It has just about everything available previously, including the Senate Chamber, student meeting rooms and the grand ballroom, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people compared to the previous venue with a capacity for 1,000.
“We didn’t lose anything. If anything, I think it was more so additions,” said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Brandon Bowden, a three-time FSU alumnus familiar with the old union building as both an employee and student.
A noticeable addition is the FSU Bookstore on the first floor, which was moved from its previous location across Woodward Avenue.
“I think the biggest thing that we don't necessarily have is the courtyard that was part of the structure of the whole union, where NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) performed steps and strolls,” Bowden said. “We have a new spot for that, but that kind of courtyard concept doesn't really exist anymore.”
The university’s fraternities, sororities and other organizations will soon be able to have displays at the popular Market Wednesday in the union's plaza area outside.
While the first floor of the building welcomes students with furnished seats and dining options such as Pollo Tropical and Panera Bread, music will usually be heard playing from the mezzanine on the floor above, where a piano is available for free play.
That area will also give students and other members of the community a view of an acrylic painting by accomplished artist and Seminole Tribe of Florida member Erica Deitz. The 24-foot by 16-foot commissioned work will be placed on the building’s wall within the next couple weeks.
Art on display: Artwork by Seminole Tribe of Florida member to be displayed in new FSU Student Union
The top floor has an extended view of the university’s campus from a balcony that can fit up to 150 people for receptions and other events. The floor also includes the student meeting rooms and the Senate Chamber, which still needs to be furnished, similar to some areas on the second floor and basement level of the building.
New student union project comes a long way
In June 2018, the former union building was demolished with ambitious plans to have a new one constructed by fall 2020. But that date got postponed to spring 2021, then this spring. The university attributed this to delays in the supply chain, the increasing cost of materials, and the pandemic.
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One thing missing from the $144 million, 300,000 square-foot union is a new name.
The former union was known as the Roscoe R. Oglesby Union Complex, named after Dean Ross Oglesby in 1974. Oglesby, who died in 1973, was a government professor, dean of students and one of the key planners of the union.
But now the university is looking to attract a generous donor to step forward.
"It's all about our development team working to see if someone is interested in providing the right dollar amount to name it," Bowden said. "Most of our rooms upstairs are already named."
Naming rights also are available at the bowling and billiards area, the grand ballroom and the outside plaza for the right-sized financial donation.
Students enjoy FSU's ‘living room,’ grads miss out
One of the things Grace enjoys most about the new student union so far is the 12-lane bowling alley, which is in the basement of the building along with eight full-sized billiard tables, a pro shop and Club Downunder.
“Me and a couple of friends went bowling the other day, and it was so fun,” Grace said. “I know a lot of students struggle with not wanting to go off campus every weekend when they want to have fun, so it's really cool to just walk down here and find something to do.”
But many students didn’t have that option – students like FSU alumna Johanna Carpio, who graduated this spring, missing her chance to experience the building as an undergrad. Her time at FSU began in 2019.
“I was involved in the Asian American Student Union, and we never had our own space to just vibe,” Carpio, 21, said. “It made me feel like, wow, the moment it's finally finished, I'm already gone. I didn't get to enjoy any aspect of the normalcy that the new and current students are going to experience.”
Despite not having the opportunity, Carpio looks forward to revisiting FSU’s campus from her future home in Washington, D.C., to participate in AASU events.
“A misconception is that people say there was no union, but I think what they mean is there was not this physical building,” Bowden said.
“I think what people were missing was what we call 'the living room.' This is the living room of campus, and our students and staff were all missing that,” he added. “I would certainly encourage our alumni to come back and engage with us to experience it.”
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘The living room of campus’: FSU’s new student union building is open
