UM Student Union Remodeling Project Making Progress, Major Changes

The Ole Miss Student Union renovation and expansion project is fully underway with closings and temporary relocations scheduled in the coming weeks. Photo by Robert Jordan/Ole Miss Communications

As the highly-anticipated $59 million renovation and expansion of the University of Mississippi’s Student Unioncontinues, campus users can expect several changes in the weeks ahead.

For starters, the Subway sandwich shop inside the facility closed its doors Friday (Nov. 11). Ole Miss Food Services closes Dec. 10 and will not reopen in the building.

Relocations coming up include the Ole Miss Bookstore (temporarily closing Dec. 9 and reopening Dec. 14 in the Jackson Avenue Center), the Mississippi Federal Credit Union (closing Dec 21 and moving to the MFCU Branch at 1101 Jackson Ave.) and the UM Box Office (closing Dec. 21 and reopening at the Ford Center when the university’s normal operating hours resume in January).

The existing Ole Miss Student Union closes at 5 p.m. Dec. 21 and will not reopen until fall 2018.

“When students return for the spring semester on Jan. 23, there will be no access to the Ole Miss Student Union,” said Bradley Baker, Union director. “The Ole Miss Student Union office, Ole Miss Big Event, Student Activities Association and services they are responsible for will be located in Lester Hall, Room 210.”

Other relocations are:

• The Office of the Dean of Students to Minor Hall, Room B05E;
• The Associated Student Body and Black Student Union to Minor Hall, Room B05A;
• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life staff (including the Interfraternity Council, National Pan-hellenic Council and College Panhellenic Association) to Minor Hall, Room B05C;
• ATMs to the lower level of Rebel Market near Freshii and the Ole Miss ID Center.

“Both Chick-fil-A and Provisions on Demand will have mobile concepts,” Baker said. “Details of location and hours will be announced at a later date by Ole Miss Dining Services. Rebel Market will open Jan. 2 for lunch and dinner options only. All campus dining options will begin opening on Jan. 20.”

The Ole Miss Student Union expansion will open in August 2017 before students arrive for the fall semester. The expansion will feature a transit center, food court, McAllister’s Deli and the Union Ballroom.

A seven-page brochure features drawings of the Grove-Side View, North Bird’s-Eye View, North Exterior View, East Entrance View, Second-Floor Views of the Dining and Lobby Areas. Also included are renderings of the Student Union Ballroom, Conference Room and Council Room.

Construction, which began in early July 2015, is expected to be completed by 2019. Upgrading the building will increase its size from 97,000 square feet to about 170,000 square feet.

“The Student Union expansion and renovation project supports the university’s commitment to developing student leaders by providing opportunities to enhance their leadership capacity, value-based development and social responsibility,” said Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for student affairs. “This project allows our university to expand student engagement activities and better support current student involvement. These are key elements to student retention and success.”

For more information regarding dining options, visit http://olemiss.campusdish.com/.

For copies of the Ole Miss Student Union Expansion and Renovation Project brochure, contact the Office of Student Affairs or visit http://union.olemiss.edu.

Courtesy of Edwin Smith and the Ole Miss News Desk

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