State of the Union? Changing!
The LSU Union gets a facelift for the next generation of Tigers

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Artist's rendering of the east side of the proposed Union renovations.

May 22, 2007 — Ask any alumnus of LSU, and they’ll tell you: no visit to campus is complete without a trip to the house that students built, the LSU Student Union.

Built entirely with student fees, the Student Union has seen every conceivable change at LSU since the building opened in 1964.  But now, it will be the Union itself that will do the changing, thanks to a renovation project that will add more space, more usability and more life to a beloved campus icon.

The renovation is the first facility-wide overhaul to take place at the Union in more than 40 years.

Walk past the Union on any day and you’ll bear witness to the scale of the operation.  Scaffolds and fencing currently surround the entire southern wall of the structure, clearing the way for a radical redesign of the facility.  When construction is completed in 2008, this construction zone will be replaced with a new four-story, 40,000 square-foot addition that will house the “Live Oak Lounge,” a high-tech multi-purpose lounge area overlooking the Memorial Oak Grove, as well as office and meeting spaces for student organizations. 

All told, more than 50,000 square feet will be added to the building and two-thirds of the existing building will be affected by the update.

The $54 million project includes:

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Taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the $54.6 million expansion and renovation of the LSU Union in Memorial Oak Grove Sept. 29, 2006, were, left to right, Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Academic Services Neil Mathews; Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Academic Services Doris Collins; Jerry Hebert, Grace & Hebert Architects; Provost Harold Silverman; Chancellor Sean O’Keefe; and LSU mascot Mike the Tiger.

Additionally, the LSU Union, as part of the Forever LSU campaign, is striving to enhance its programming efforts by hosting more speakers, visual and performing artists and leadership conferences.

Additional improvements are also scheduled for the LSU Union Theater, but cost overruns, due to an unexpected hike in construction costs, may delay those particular upgrades. 

LSU students approved a fee increase in 2003 to fully fund the entire renovation, but no one could have then forseen the difficulties inflicted on Louisiana construction sites since Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the total cost of the project has increased by over $24 million. LSU is currently seeking the help of its alumni and friends to help cover the cost increase and get the improvements to the Union Theater back on track.

“The Union renovation is a lasting contribution to the LSU community,” Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Union renovation.  “It is going to be challenging, but when it’s done, this is going to be the identity of Louisiana State University.”

A typical day at the LSU Union sees more than 15,000 students, faculty and staff walking through the doors and utilizing the Union’s services.  More than 6,000 campus events are held each year by LSU’s many different organizations.

“The LSU Student Union is more than just a building, it’s a destination,” said LSU student Heath Hattaway, Chair of the LSU Student Union Board.  “For so many of us, the Union is more than a place to eat or study. For me, it’s been a place to learn and grow as an individual, to harness new skills and apply them in a real-world setting.”        

Without a doubt, every Tiger that’s come through the Union’s doors can say they’ve had a hand in its success.  But now, every Tiger has an opportunity to say they’ve laid the groundwork for the future.  To learn more about the project and the many benefits it will provide to campus, visit www.lsu.edu/unionrenovation.

If you would like to join LSU’s students in supporting the project, visit www.foreverlsu.org or contact Lynn Shields at the LSU Student Union, 225-578-0361 or lshield1@lsu.edu.

LSU is committed to excellence at every level, offering a challenging academic and research environment in one of the most unique cultural settings in the nation.  Join the Forever LSU campaign by supporting worthy campus priorities like improving LSU’s Student Union.  Forever LSU’s goal is to raise $750 million by 2010.  You can make a difference.  Every Tiger can help.

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Michelle Spielman
LSU Office of Public Affairs


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