The university celebrated the midpoint today of the largest building project in its history. More than 300 people gathered Friday afternoon for the dedication of the new Student Union!
More than thirty people lined up to cut the ceremonial orange ribbon, which spanned the width of UT’s new pedestrian bridge.
The 142,000-square-foot building completed in the first phase is the central hub for students, faculty, and staff to meet, eat, and relax. The new facility provides much-needed space to enhance services for the university’s more than 27,000 students. The first phase of the project took three years to complete. The second and final phase of the project is underway and is scheduled to open in 2018.
“Our goal is to provide our students with the facilities and amenities of a top public research university, and we are certainly on track to have the best Student Union in the country,” said UT Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “I want to thank and congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to make it happen.”
Cheek recognized the individuals, families and corporations that have invested in the university’s strategic initiatives. They are being recognized throughout the student union. Locations ranging from an office suite to interview rooms are named for corporations and in honor of donors and their families.
Alan Wilson, a 1980 alumnus, spoke on behalf of the alumni and friends who are recognized within the new facility. Wilson is chair and CEO of McCormick and Company. He and his wife, Wendy, visited the new Center for Career Development offices today. The top floor suite is now called the Alan and Wendy Wilson Career Development Suite.
“We all have our personal reasons for giving,” he said. “We want to contribute to something we care about deeply, we want to support the good work that’s going on at the university, and we want to help to inspire great students.”