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Old Posted Mar 10, 2010, 12:39 AM
Johnny Ryall Johnny Ryall is offline
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University of Memphis previews spacious new University Center
the Commercial Appeal | By Chris Conley

University of Memphis archaeology graduate student Ryan Parish takes his daughter, Ali, 2, on a tour of the new University Center on Monday afternoon. Some of the new building opens for business this week in preparation for a grand opening next Monday.
Photo by Jim Weber

Scattered around the University of Memphis campus are metal signs that read "CU @ the UC." The "UC," the new University Center, doesn't officially open until next Monday, but it's already drawing rave reviews from the UofM community it's intended to serve. "It looks very open," said senior Jena Eubanks. At 173,000 square feet, the $50 million project "gives the illusion it is bigger than it is," she said. "I really love it," senior Ashley Smith said. "It's very modern." "It gives us a hearthstone, a living room to connect and create even more diversity," said Ron Crawford, assistant director of the center. Inside work on the building was about 70 percent complete as the week began.

Inside the three-story red-brick building, intense natural light streams through a huge skylight in the middle. The layout helps pull the light into the offices, technology hubs, meeting halls, the 1,000-seat ballroom and the 350-seat theater. The natural lighting is enhanced by hanging reflectors that direct the light into what would otherwise be dark areas. It's a concept borrowed from ancient Egyptian constructions, Crawford said. Between 4,000 and 6,000 people are expected to move through the building in a given day.

The University Center represents the largest capital construction project in campus history. The 260,000-square-foot Ned R. McWherter Library, which opened in 1994, cost $26.5 million to construct. A $24.8 million living complex, with 486 beds, is expected to be completed by summer on the western edge of the campus. A food court on the University Center ground floor contains a Burger King Whopper Bar; a Taco Bell Express; Miso noodle, rice and sushi restaurant; Topio's classic pizza; Bistro Nineteen Twelve (no connection to Cafe 1912 on Cooper); and Tiger's of Memphis. There's also a Dunkin' Donuts in the building.

"We wanted something that was open, appealing and light," said Reb Haizlip, the building architect, "something to bring people together from all parts of the campus." Haizlip, who designed The Children's Museum of Memphis on Central, worked on the University Center for six years. The concept was to marry a traditional, monumental exterior consistent with the rest of the campus architecture with a more adventurous inside construction. "If we control the lighting, people will be magnetically attracted to being there," Haizlip said. "We carved a hole in the middle of the building and filled it with natural light," he said. "I think it will be a focal point for the campus," said Laura Hoffman, an employee in the second-floor Involvement Zone, where student organizations have offices. "It was a dreary day the other day," she said, "but it was so bright when I came in here."
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