Student event held Aug. 26; community dedication, ribbon cutting Aug. 29
WKU is celebrating the reopening of the Dero Downing Student Union this week.
From left: David Emerson, DSU manager; Howard Bailey, vice president of Student Affairs; Nicki Seay, Student Government Association president; and WKU President Gary Ransdell celebrate after cutting the ribbon during the student grand opening of the Dero Downing Student Union on Aug. 26. (WKU photo by Bryan Lemon)
A celebration for students was held Tuesday morning (Aug. 26) with a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting for the community planned for 4:30 p.m. Friday (Aug. 29).
“Students, this is your building. Make it the heartbeat of student life on this campus,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said at Tuesday’s ceremony.
The two-year, $58 million transformation of the building that originally opened in 1970 includes more than a complete update of the offices, dining facilities, lighting, IT infrastructure and electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems; the building has been transformed into a facility dedicated to student development.
“We are very excited to be able to reach out and do something of this magnitude for our students,” said Howard Bailey, vice president of Student Affairs.
Nicki Seay, Student Government Association president, encouraged students to take advantage of the renovated facility. “Make this your student union,” she said.
Charley Pride, director of Student Activities and Organizations, thanked students, administrators, project managers, architects, DSU operations staff and others for their work in transforming the building. “We are very very proud of what we have here,” he said.
Students relaxed in the Downing Student Union during the first day of classes on Aug. 25. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)
Friday’s grand opening celebration will feature remarks by Dr. Ransdell, Bailey and Alex Downing, president of Franklin Bank & Trust and son of former WKU President Dero Downing.
The new DSU, which has been renumbered from the ground floor to the third floor, includes the WKU Store, SIFE print center, post office on the ground floor; a 24-hour study area, recreation room, DSU operations offices, Student Disability Services, Fresh Food Co., Starbucks, a new food court with Steak ‘n Shake, Papa John’s and Chick-fil-A, a new Red Zone and a new Nite Class on the first floor; offices for Student Activities and other organizations, SGA meeting chambers, Center for Career and Professional Development, Academic Advising & Retention Center, ID Center, WKU Restaurant Group on the second floor; and multiple meeting rooms on the third floor.
The center of the building is open from the first floor to the third floor with solar tubes that allow natural light in and murals of campus scenes by artist David Jones are painted throughout DSU.
Ross Tarrant Architects and Mackey Mitchell Architects designed the new DSU; Whittenberg Construction served as general contractor.
More: View from the Hill on the DSU transformation.
Contact: Public Affairs, (270) 745-4295.
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