Arkansas Tech University Starts Construction on New Student Union

Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark., recently began construction on a new student union facility, according to a news release. Ferguson Student Union will measure in at 68,000 square feet and marks one of the largest construction projects in the university’s history.

Amenities will include student meeting spaces, lounge and leisure spaces, fast-casual dining, basketball courts, an esports facility, workout rooms, and the ability to rent outdoor recreational gear, the news release reports.

According to the university website, “Of the estimated cost of construction, Arkansas Tech University is committing $15.6 million in unrestricted reserves to support the project. The balance of the resources needed to complete the project would come from the sale of revenue bonds, which would be paid over a period of 30 years through the student union and recreation center fee paid by in-person students at ATU in Russellville.”

The university is partnering with Kinco Constructors for the project’s construction, which is estimated to last through 2026, according to the university website.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • A digital silhouette works at a computer, immersed in a glowing, interconnected world

    How Will AI Transform Learning Space Design?

    For years, higher education has designed learning spaces around technology as a tool for display, capture, collaboration, and connectivity. AI changes that equation.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.