This weekend’s Homecoming celebration will mark the official dedication of the new MU Student Center, formerly called Brady Commons.
All MU employees, alumni and the public are invited to the ceremonies, which begin tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. with the opening of The Traditions Lounge, inside the new center at the corner of Hitt Street and Rollins Road. The official dedication of the Student Center starts at 3 p.m. in front of the main entrance on Rollins Road.
The Traditions Lounge showcases MU’s most treasured traditions, old and new, such as Homecoming, Tiger Walk, Francis Quadrangle and Memorial Union. The black-and-gold-carpeted lounge features a limestone fireplace and artifacts from Mizzou history, exhibited by University Archives.
Other events Friday include a “Welcome to Your Student Center” tailgate lunch, sponsored by the Homecoming Steering Committee and the Missouri Student Unions, and a book signing by MU alumnus Mort Walker, creator of the Beetle Bailey comic strip character. Walker is also the inspiration for Mort’s Grill, a first-floor restaurant in the new center.
The new center was built in phases so students could access services throughout construction. Phase 1, which opened in 2009, began in 2007 and involved new construction to the east of Brady Commons. A major portion of Phase 2, which required demolition and renovation of the original Brady Commons, opened a couple of months ago. The remainder will be completed later this semester — almost six months ahead of schedule.
The 230,000-square-foot project cost $64 million. In 2005, students overwhelmingly passed a referendum to increase their student fees to fund nearly half of the construction. Revenue from auxiliary services, such as the University Bookstore and Campus Dining Services, covered the remaining 52 percent of construction costs.