At long last, Union's latest facelift is finished

Student Body President Andy Knopp, after hearing the Kansas Union renovation was complete, said, "It was like hearing that construction on I-70 was finally finished!" Knopp was right. Standing in the finished Kansas Union at its dedication, you could sense the relief from years of discussion, disruption and dust. The finished product was deemed a triumph, though project directors endured their share of unique challenges along the way.

The Union's challenge was monumental: How to give visitors to the Kansas Union a KU experience? Many students pointed to the Jayhawks embedded in the floor as their favorite aspect of the current Union, while others spoke of the beloved campus model. It became clear that the physical renovation would have to-among other things- invoke a spirit of KU.

Lawrence architects Gould Evans and Associates responded to the challenge by asking if that meant adding things like artistic representations of wheat in the stair rails. Well, yes, just like that. Hence, a successful partnership formed to create a Kansas Union that not only embodies the spirit of Mount Oread, it also satisfies multiple objectives for adding student and retail space along with improved traffic flow in a beautifully modern facility.

The seven-year, $6.3 million renovation project was originally conceived and funded by students wishing to add space for student organizations while enhancing other areas of the union. The result provides nearly twice as much space for student offices, and offers improved services for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The Phase III Renovation of the Union officially came to end April 30, when Union and University officials cut construction tape at a dedication ceremony. The event fell on the 77th anniversary of the original laying of the Kansas Union cornerstone, which took place April 30, 1926, when the building was dedicated as a memorial to KU students killed during World War I.

Although Union-goers will appreciate even the smallest details, the most obvious change is the new stair tower, now centrally located within the building. Dubbed the "Traditions Tower," it features floor-to-ceiling windows offering wonderful views of campus, as well as student leadership plaques, faculty & staff awards and a World War I memorial.

Adding to the building's charm, cherished KU artifacts are being salvaged as part of the KU History Galleries, and placed on display throughout the building. The old steam whistle, which broke this year after 63 years of service, now has found a home as part of an interactive display on level 1, where visitors can manually push a button, as Clarence Knapp did for 20 years as a KU facilities worker, to hear the familiar sound. Just across the hall, the original Baby Jay mascot costume will find a nest, thanks to a Senior Class Gift of 2002.

Clarence Knapp, who operated the original campus steam whistle for 20 years, stands in front of a KU History Galleries display in the Memorial Union. Visitors can push a button to hear the familiar sound.

In addition to the "wheat" in the stair rails, other details include a university seal at the top of the stair tower against a backdrop of a blue ceiling, designed to be reminiscent of "our noble alma mater, towering toward the blue."

Another favorite addition will surely be the Rock Chalk Stone, a gift of Jay Howard, b'79, Austin, Texas. The original limestone, discovered in storage on KU's West Campus, is believed to have come from old Fraser Hall. The stone is carved with the Rock Chalk Chant, along with an inscription that tells of the chant's origin. Located at the base of the traditions tower, it can be viewed by looking over the railing from any of the six levels.

Also included among renovation highlights is the covered bridge connecting the union to the parking garage. The walkway provides improved access to shopping and services for visitors. New spaces such as the Hawks Nest, a lounge/performance area, and Oread Books, the new home for what was formerly known as the Mount Oread Bookshop, add to the atmosphere of this modern college union.

When the Big 12 Union Directors hold their annual meetings here in the fall, the Kansas Union will be the envy of representatives from around the conference. Current students are already making themselves at home in the new and improved Kansas Union, and alumni are invited to do the same in what is still considered the "living room" of campus.