Stanislaus State opens doors to new University Student Center, still being finished
On Monday, the first day of spring semester classes, Warriors welcomed a new University Student Center that’s coming in on time and under budget at Stanislaus State.
A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held, drawing hundreds of present and past students, most of whom were getting their first look inside the building, which was budgeted at $52 million but ended up being $48 million, said student Jennifer Galeana-Vasquez, chair of the University Student Center board of directors.
It’s been about two years since the Turlock campus, with an enrollment of more than 10,600, has had a student center. Demolition of the former building was completed in June 2018.
That facility of about 74,000 square feet was insufficient, Galeana-Vasquez said, noting that indoors and out, the new University Student Center has more than doubled its size to about 152,400 square feet of usable space, including the university’s event center.
The University Bookstore already has relocated to the student center’s second floor, which also includes offices, studying and lounging space, Stan State’s single largest conference room (seating more than 200 people) and the Career & Professional Development Center.
Connecting the floors is the Warrior Steps area: indoor amphitheater seating that faces a low stage that backs up to a wall of exterior windows. It’s a spot envisioned for everything from arts performances to TED-type talks, said Melannie Castellanos, University Student Center vice chair.
The new center “definitely has expanded” the space students have for lounging and studying, and made it more versatile, Castellanos said.
A big portion of the student center’s ground floor is the expanded Warrior Grill. It now includes shuffleboard and pool tables and large garage-style doors that open up to an outdoor patio with plenty of seating. In a January article on the university’s website, Director of Facilities Operations Tim Overgaauw said the grill still will offer burgers, fries and other pub fare, but also now has a state-of-the-art pizza oven he predicts will be a big draw. Also likely to be a big draw: Wine and beer will be served in the grill once the permit process is done.
Other food options in the center also are coming. There will be a Starbucks, the university article says, a convenience store called The Market, a farm-to-fork-style eatery called Titus Grown, a sushi and poke counter and Shake Smart, which offers shakes, bowls, coffee and other quick bites that are high in protein and can be customized to fit lactose-free, gluten-free and vegan lifestyles.
The student center’s E-Gaming Center will be set up with gaming lounge chairs, large portable televisions and the latest console games, university materials say. It will offer affordable entertainment and gaming tournaments for students.
In comments to the crowd gathered for the ribbon cutting, Galeana-Vasquez noted that the new University Student Center also is a job creator. It employs 40 student assistants ranging from custodial, event coordinators, service desk attendants, marketing assistants and more, she said. Five professional staff members also were added, in areas such as program assessment and services, operations and marketing.
To learn more, see the project website thenewstanstate.org and the January update on student center dining options at bit.ly/3aN7U9s.
This story was originally published January 27, 2020 at 2:50 PM.
