Members of ASUNM and other concerned groups received a guided tour of the new Student Union Building to get a glimpse of their future offices Wednesday night.
The tour, led by Walt Miller, associate vice president for student development, was to provide a look at the plans for different areas of the site, setbacks they have faced and aspirations for the future of the building.
Miller described the motivation behind the building's state-of-the-art design as convenient, pointing out that every detail was scrutinized with students' use in mind.
He noted the restrooms as an example, pointing out that they are all in the same central location to be user-friendly, with the men's room being as "politically correct" as possible, complete with diaper changing stations.
Miller pointed out the true spirit of the SUB's renovation, now with a tab of over $25 million, as "a total reconstruction, with no details spared." Miller boasted that every room in the building will be complete with brand new furniture, pointing to a renovated computer pod with over 100 stations for student use seven days a week.
Miller noted a new movie theater and outside amphitheater as highlights of the project, complete with stadium seating and a multi-use theme.
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"Everything is multi-task possible," Miller said, pointing out that the theater could be used for class purposes during the day and for showing films at night.
Miller noted the atrium on the building's third floor as a symptom of some of type of problems they have encountered.
"Although we once hoped for it to be completely open air, with the students at the top being able to look down upon the lower levels, fire code changes have forced us to raise glass barricades around the opening," Miller said.
The section of the building designated for student organizations received special consideration, even when funding and design cutbacks were called for.
"When we had to push the project back and cut corners wherever we could, I made sure the student organization's offices were spared," Miller said, adding that when finished the SUB will house more than 50 student organization's offices.
"I think the project is incredible," said Sen. Jon Maple, a member of the SUB committee. "Any anxiety I had was thwarted by the sheer brilliance of the building."
Maple said the latest setback was "inconvenient, but sometimes good things take longer than planned. This is definitely a good thing."
The SUB plans include multi-level entrances to add to the convenience for the students frequenting the building. The building will also be complete with full service Credit Union banking station, a convenience store that is triple the size of the one in the previous SUB, with a possible hair stylist and postal station being negotiated.
"Although the wait is longer than I or anyone else wants to wait, from what I've seen here I am sure that good things really do come to those that wait," Sen. Brian Lucero said.
When visitors began hinting at the possibility of having a firm completion date, which Miller called the magic question, he quickly answered, "as soon as possible." Miller stressed that UNM's SUB is 100 times better than similar buildings he has visited across the country, and that "UNM students need to realize that."
"The finished product will be something that students can be proud of," Miller said. "Our attention to detail will emphasize that we care about the students."
