Student Union (Valdosta State University)

Valdosta State University
Student Union

Type	Student Union
Established	2010
Director	Robin Vickery
Location	Valdosta, Georgia, USA
Website	http://www.valdosta.edu/stulife/

The Student Union of Valdosta State University serves as the social center of VSU and offers students a food court, bookstore, theater, game room, lounge space, and student organization offices.

History

The original University Union, built in 1966, contained the University snack bar, book store, radio station WVVS, mail services, a swimming pool, the offices of the University Union Board, Student Government Association, the yearbook, and newspaper editorial offices. The school book store was latter relocated to a larger structure between S. Walter Martin Hall and the Special Education and Communication Disorders Building on the southern portion of the campus.^[1] A committee of students, faculty, and staff was formed in 2004 to study the possibility of opening a new Student Union. It was determined that the original facility was inadequate to serve Valdosta State University's growing student enrollment.^[2]

In 2008, after years of planning, construction began on a new facility to replace the outdated Union to better accommodate the growing student population of VSU. The construction of the facility was paid for through student fees.^[3] The old 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m²) Student Union and the old gymnasium were demolished to allow room for the construction of the 113,000-square-foot (10,500 m²), three story building. The facility opened on January 7, 2010 and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held January 19.^[4]

Facility Details

The buildings official size is 113,604 square feet (10,554.2 m²)
The total cost of construction was $43.2 Million
WTW Architects of Pittsburgh and local firm Ellis, Rickett and Associates Architects and Planners designed the new student union and Skanska USA Building, Inc. served as contractors.^[5]

Features

The Student Union features a 305-seat theater with Dolby surround sound, a 10x17' movie screen, and convenience area outside the theater. A two-story, 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) VSU Bookstore is located inside the Student Union that features a technology shop and text books on the first floor and university merchandise on the second. A game room that offers pool tables, table tennis, board and card games, and video gaming systems is on the bottom floor. On the second floor is a food court that contains a Nathan’s Famous Hot-dogs, Starbucks Coffee, and a Chick-fil-A and features indoor and outside seating. On the third floor is a multi-Purpose Room with seating capacity for 540 persons and lecture seating capacity for 850 persons. The space can also be divided into three smaller rooms to host multiple events. A glass-walled, two-story rotunda serves as a lounge space with computer kiosks for students. The windows give students a view of Hopper Hall, Converse Hall and Odum Library. The Student Union also features space for student organizations with 24 suites that will accommodate student groups, and 6 meeting rooms.^[6]

Photo gallery

NE corner of Student Union dome
The former College Union newly constructed in 1967
The former Union in 1976
The rotunda in the new Student Union features lounge space and computer kiosks
Food Court

References

Valdosta State University

Academics	History of Valdosta State University Colleges Undergraduate Graduate Governor's Honors Program Peach State Summer Theatre

Athletics	Gulf South Conference Valdosta State Blazers football Bazemore–Hyder Stadium The Complex

Campus	Main Campus West Hall Odum Library Student Union Bailey Science Center Residence Halls The Rea and Lillian Steele North Campus

Student life	Greek Life "The Spectator"

People	List of Valdosta State University Presidents Notable Alumni Athletic Alumni Notable Faculty Athletic Personnel

University System of Georgia

Research universities	Augusta University Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University University of Georgia

Comprehensive universities	Georgia Southern University Kennesaw State University University of West Georgia Valdosta State University

State universities	Albany State University Armstrong State University Clayton State University Columbus State University Fort Valley State University Georgia College & State University Georgia Southwestern State University Middle Georgia State University University of North Georgia Savannah State University

Category I state colleges	Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Atlanta Metropolitan State College College of Coastal Georgia Dalton State College Georgia Gwinnett College Gordon State College

Category II state colleges	Bainbridge State College Darton State College East Georgia State College Georgia Highlands College Georgia Perimeter College South Georgia State College

Governing body	Georgia Board of Regents

Coordinates: 30°50′49″N 83°17′23″W / 30.84697°N 83.28959°W / 30.84697; -83.28959

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