Student Union (Valdosta State University)

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.HistoryThe 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. 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growing student enrollment.In 2008, after years of planning, construction began on a new facility to replace the outdated Union to better accommodate the growing student population of VSU.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. The old 35000sqft Student Union and the old gymnasium were demolished to allow room for the construction of the 113000sqft, three story building. The facility opened on January 7, 2010 and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held January 19.Facility DetailsThe buildings official size is 113604sqftThe total cost of construction was $43.2 MillionWTW 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.