Spacious 98,000 sq. ft. building focuses on student needs and activities
In years past the place where students went to relax, meet, eat or
study between classes at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi was
the Glasscock Memorial Student Center. This has changed in a big way
with the June 21 opening of the 98,000 square-foot University Center
(UC).
“There is no other building like it anywhere,” University Center Director Bart Hall said. The new building is very modern and impressive with its architecture and versatility.
Unifying the University Center is the Commons, a five-story circular atrium. At the bottom floor of the Commons are seven retail service areas surrounding a 250-seat dining area. “The center is the home of after-class activity on campus,” said Hall. “The Commons is becoming the crossroads of the campus.”
The Commons Market food court includes made-to-order-salads and sandwiches, ChickFilA, Great Plates for “comfort food,” Mattoni’s for pizza from a wood-fired oven, Tortilla’s offers a TexMex menu and Texas Grille serves gourmet burgers.
Also on the first floor are the University Bookstore, American Bank, 78412 Post Office, Campus Copies and The Channels, a TV lounge. Hall added, “All post office boxes on campus are now at the Post Office in the University Center.” Campus Copies--a full service retail photocopy shop providing color, high-speed and specialty copies as well as presentation support--is a totally new service for the campus.
The first floor of the University Bookstore features a leisure reading area, computer software, school supplies and a variety of logo apparel. The second floor textbook area boasts a beautiful view of the campus as well as a conveniently organized sales floor featuring textbooks and academic related items.
At 6,400 square feet, the Lone Star Ballroom is the other dominant feature of the University Center's first floor. This multipurpose event space, combined with 12 other meeting rooms on all three floors, provides more than 16,000 square feet of event space; that's more than all the conference and event spaces currently on campus. All of these rooms have telephone, computer and video connection capability. University Center staff provides all support services such as set-up, cleaning and A-V equipment support.
University Center Scheduling Coordinator Jennifer Hill said, “The campus community will have first choice on meeting rooms each semester.”
New reservations procedures ensure priority access for student and departmental events. These procedures also re-direct many campus events from classrooms and less functional spaces around campus to the new University Center. Meeting room reservations can be made by contacting Hill at (361) 825-5281.
The Information Desk at the Commons is a clearinghouse for all information about the University and campus activities. Hall said, “There will be a student staff person at the Information Desk every hour the UC is open.” Those hours of operation are as expansive as the facilities. “This building will seem like it is always open compared to the Glasscock Memorial Student Center,” said Hall. “Most retail services have expanded hours.” The UC is open 103 hours per week compared to the 71 hours weekly the Glasscock Memorial Student Center was open.
On the second floor balcony overlooking the Commons, the Percs coffee shop and Breakers game room combine coffee house and recreation activities. The Student Activities Office, Student Organization area, University Center offices, more meeting/event space and a study lounge occupy the remainder of this level.
The third floor includes several meeting rooms, The Dock TV lounge, the Career Services Office, Student Affairs Office, New Student Programs Office, Women’s Center and more lounge space.
Vice President for Student Affairs Eliot Chenaux added his perspective on the University Center. “Sixty to 70 percent of a student’s time at any university is spent outside the classroom. The University Center provides space for quality use of that time. It’s a place where students can relax, study and socialize. Centers like this are where students learn social and leadership skills to complement their academic skills. You need both for a balanced education and by providing the opportunity to acquire both, A&M-Corpus Christi increases the quality of its education in both academic and life skills.”
Hall added, “The entire campus community now has a place to interact formally and informally as well as plenty of room for private, quiet time when needed.”
For more information about the University Center, contact Bart Hall at (361) 825-5925. The University Center Web site is http://www2.tamucc.edu/~ucenter/.
