Repository: UIHistories Project: UI Foundation Series - Bulletin 1 (1936) [PAGE 5]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

A New Student Union Building * « The Next Possibility in Campus Building Program

W

HY do we want a bigger and better Union building at Illinois? Have you ever walked over to the revamped and immensely improved but still inadequate Student Union headquarters at the corner of Wright and John? Do it some time when you visit the campus and see the signs of activity among the student body there. It is a meeting place for friends who are going to lunch together. A few take a loose hour to play a game of ping pong, a couple of rubbers at bridge or a game of chess or checkers. By going next door the men are able to

the more tickets you will sell," says Chilly. We could multiply the uses of such a building without difficulty, almost ad libitum, but this hazy picture gives you a few of the reasons why we should have more adequate headquarters. The idea of a Union building in this section of the country is probably a full generation old. The University of Chicago has had its Reynolds Club for students over thirty years and the idea has been expanding from coast to coast for the past twenty years. Furthermore (and here the dragon of competition rears its

slight variations, depending upon the special needs of each institution, this list represents a fair cross section of any Union Building. Many of the Unions also provide beauty parlors and barber shops, space for University or Faculty Clubs, libraries and reading rooms, exhibition rooms, campus book stores, housing for visiting athletic teams, postal facilities and even a wedding chapel (at Iowa State). You as an alumnus or former student will be interested to know that quarters will be assigned to you in this building. When you come back, you will surely be

INDIANA. The Indiana Union, a beautiful Collegiate Gothic all-Indiana limestone building, was designed by the same architects who designed our new Medical and Dental College Laboratories in Chicago. A feature of their Union is the large Ball Room, in which are held their weekly allUniversity dances. No more beautiful commercial space is to be found on any campus than the wing that houses the University bookstore. This Union, constructed in 1932, is the latest addition to the Big Ten Family. PURDUE. The Purdue Union is a different expression of Collegiate Gothic design, largely faced with brick. Their provisions for meal service are quite ample and complete. One entire wing of their building is devoted to dormitory housing, one floor to University guests, one floor to rooms for the faculty, and one floor to students. As is true of many Unions, the Purdue Union was not entirely completed with the original construction. An addition is being built at the present time. IOWA. The University of Iowa Union building is a very ture, brick with stone trim. An exceptionally fine feature ninety by one hundred and thirty-two feet, with a ceiling this page. Its location is such that it fits very effectively effective example of Classic Architecof this building is the lounge, a room extending an extra floor, as shown on into other parts of the building. \

**'.' , v ' ^tZ&^S*

/ head, providing an adequate excuse, if there were no other reasons), look on the opposite page and see what our neighboring state universities have done about a Union building for their students.* Already done and here we are just talking about ours. We of Illinois cannot afford to be behind like this. We have selected the Union buildings from four of our neighboring Big Ten schools; first, because we felt you would be more interested in what some of our neighbors have been doing; and secondly, because if any one of these four Unions were transplanted on our own campus, it would well serve our needs. What are these needs and what does every good Union building contain? All of these Unions have large assembly halls/or ball rooms that are used for University dances, banquets, theatricals, addresses, etc. All maintain lounges, meeting rooms, game rooms (billiards, cards, bowling, etc.), various dining, cafeteria, grille, and private luncheon rooms for meal service, rooms to house the various campus activities, rooms for visiting alumni and the alumni organization, rooms for guests, and more or less "hotel" or dormitory housing. With

*This very effective assembly drawing and the statistical material pertaining thereto were made possible by the excellent cooperation of the Physical Plant Department of the University.

Lounge, University of Iowa Union Building

play billiards or bowl, too. Some go there to rest on the easy davenports or over-stuffed chairs in the lounging room. One may occasionally hear a good pianist brushing up on his Rachmaninoff or Grieg or Debussy on the grand piano. This is where the committee for the next student dance or some other activity meets — a central place where this committee should be able to find a quiet corner or preferably a room in which to complete arrangements. Thousands of students bought their tickets for the Homecoming game or the Star Lecture Course or the basketball or hockey games at "Chilly" Bowen's headquarters. "Yes," you will say, "those could have been bought at the 'Gym/" But a Union building is so much more central and handy. "The easier you make it for your customers,

?&qm

glad to make use of those facilities. It will be seen that adequate quarters have been provided for guests of the University or parents of prospective students. Faculty and students should be able to mingle at receptions or in conferences. Graduate students should have privileges of a club; the Athenaeum at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena is such a place —much used and much appreciated. How fine it would be to have on the campus an adequate dance hall with a smooth floor, plenty of check rooms for wraps and promenade facilities, all under proper supervision. These are only a few of the uses to which a building of this character can be put to serve legitimate, useful and necessary functions in a great university. As to the method of financing, no college or university, to our knowledge, has found it possible to extend material financial help in the construction of the Union Building on its campus. With the exception perhaps of Indiana, the four Unions illustrated have cost in excess of $1,000,000 each. A few Union buildings have been financed in part or whole by bequests. The majority, however, have been realized after years of work through one or more campaigns for "memberships" or gifts from alumni, students, and friends, much as our Stadium was financed,

MICHIGAN. The Michigan Union, one of the first built in this area, is of similar exterior design to the Purdue Union. A feature here is the combined alumni and student motivation. Through tradition, every returning alumnus considers the Union his home while on the campus. Life memberships are maintained. WISCONSIN. The Wisconsin Union, probably the most luxurious of all midwest Unions, has an all-stone exterior and is of Italian Renaissance design. I n selecting a site, full advantage was taken of a fine lake view. Its lounges, lobby, and public and private dining rooms are quite rich and impressive in their treatment. Its Rathskeller, a grill for men, is famous thruout Union circles. CHICAGO. The University of Chicago's Reynolds Club, being the oldest of the Big Ten Union buildings, has the handicap of being less modern and without the present-day developments in comfort. The architecture is Gothic and the building itself is blended in between Mandel Hall on the south and Mitchell Tower on the north. The interior shown on this page is the smoking room.

Smoker in Reynolds Club, University of Chicago

Page four