The University of Oregon in Eugene has completed a $95 million renovation and expansion of the 66-year-old Erb Memorial Union.
The university says the project has added more than 80,000 square feet of new space to the facility and renovated 134,000 square feet of existing space. Erb was built in 1950. Since it was last renovated in the 1970s, student enrollment has grown from 16,000 to 24,000, but the union lacked many of the amenities found in modern student unions, and the building itself was laid out poorly and difficult to navigate.
The renovation has provided an expanded dining area with several restaurants and stores.
Other amenities in the expanded student union: a bike and pedestrian plaza; outdoor green space; expanded student organization space; a 250-seat movie and multipurpose performance theater; smart building technology wired for modern performance and access; and expanded public spaces where students can gather, study, use meeting spaces, and attend conferences.
The university incorporated environmentally friendly elements into the renovation and expects to receive a Gold LEED rating for sustainable design and construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. The construction emphasized use of locally sourced materials and materials with high recycled content.
