Project File: Uniting students

The University of Connecticut, Storrs, is renovating its student union building. The $42 million project is part of a 23-year, $2.8 billion plan to transform the university's campus physically.

To create the least disruption for students, faculty and staff, the renovation is being done in phases. The first phase of construction began in May 2002 and ended last August. Phase two is underway and is scheduled for completion this fall.

The new student union will house the university cultural centers as well as the International Center, both designed to serve more than 300 student organizations. Bringing these centers to the heart of the campus was important to serve and unite the diverse student body.

The architectural plan for the student union called for preserving the brick facade of the original building and incorporating it into the interior of the new east addition. The new space serves as a central interior walkway, featuring a four-story atrium with skylights above the fluid catwalks on each floor that connect the old with the new.

The architect is Cannon Design (Boston), and Konover Construction Corporation (Farmington, Conn.) is the construction manager.