Union rennovation architects present primary designs

When students voted to pay an extra $20 fee to update the K-State Student Union, little was known about the new design. Now, students can see designs and photos of the product their dollars benefit.

Representatives from Workshop Architects, Inc., the company in charge of the renovation, were on campus Thursday to speak to faculty and student leaders about their direction.

In schematic design, its a lot about the big picture, Andrew Peters, designer for Workshop Architects, Inc., said.

Peters, along with Bill Smriga, executive director for the Union, and Jan van den Kieboom, designer for Workshop Architects, Inc., presented the proposed design for the Union. While designs arent finalized (due to budgeting with Turner Construction), Workshop Architects was able to show off the basis of the new plan.

The biggest changes will be seen on the buildings ground and first floors; the first floor will be completely gutted to make way for new spaces. The new design will feature a circular layout to change up what Peters called the current cut-through setup.

It doesnt really allow people a place to kind of linger and socialize, Peters said. Were re-creating the circulation of the building.

The $25 million renovation will also remove several exterior walls to bring more natural light into the currently dark space. With an open concept, added seating areas and a fireplace, Workshop is striving to make the Union into a more homey environment.

Weve been the living room of the campus for almost 60 years and just really emphasizing that we are every students building, that every student has a place will be a really big benefit to our student body. Audrey Taggart-Kagdis

You come into the new building and you see social space, you see relational space. Its the family room of campus, Peters said.

While redevelopment of the food service area caused a few hiccups for designers, van den Kieboom said he was confident that they had moved things around in a way to make Union more accessible, useful and comfortable for students. Tenative designs feature a sports bar with a balcony overlooking Old Stadium, a multitude of restaurants, a coffee shop and an ice cream shop that open out onto Bosco Student Plaza.

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Union rennovation architects present primary designs