The $25.4 million student center is expected to open in fall 2008.
(Commerce)—"It's going to be like a student center from any of the big name universities but it will be in our own backyard instead."
Joey Dean, a senior journalism major from Detroit and editor of student newspaper The East Texan, is just one of the many students excited that the new Sam Rayburn Student Center is becoming a reality at Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Despite gray skies, spirits were high on campus as hundreds of people gathered for the groundbreaking of the center Friday. Due to the rainy weather, the ceremony was held inside the new $28 million state-of-the-art Science Building and planetarium across the street from where the student center will be located.
The $25.4 million student center, expected to open in fall 2008, "will be a building used by students, faculty and the community," said Niki Williams, a senior political science major from Fayetteville, Ark., and vice president of the student body.
The 92,000-square-foot Sam Rayburn Student Center will be the destination for hanging out, shopping, dining, clubbing, and studying.
Williams described Student Center Director Rick Miller as "a strong advocate for what students actually need."
Miller said the student center is going to be a laboratory for the education that students get out of class. "It will be a place to discuss ideas, learn to win and learn by failure. It is through our students' ideas and their inspiration that the hole in the ground we see today is going to become a laboratory for their thought and ideas," he said.
Miller told the audience that while many may be students today, they will be alumni tomorrow, and he thanked students and alumni for their support. "Four student body administrations worked hard to make this day possible."
Four former student center directors were present for the ceremony. Miller thanked Ron Robinson, Jim Stahl, Bill King and Brian Nichols for their presence.
The process for the new building has been led by students with the approval given in the student referendum to the groundbreaking ceremony, Ashley said. "Dr. McFarland is proud this has been a student project," he said.
Other speakers were U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall of Rockwall, State Representative Dan Flynn of Van, and junior industrial engineering major Scott Palomino of El Paso.
Hall said he was pleased to be on campus for the ceremony. "It's great to be here on a day when we have a building named after a great man who is connected to this school, the history of Fannin County, and the United States."
Rayburn of Bonham was a graduate of East Texas Normal College and longtime Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The two-story building will be designed by Gideon Toal, an award-winning architectural and structural engineering firm and WTW Architects, a nationally recognized architectural firm specializing in student union construction and renovation.
The first floor will house the Infodesk, which will serve as the campus concierge for information, tickets and directions around campus. There will be a student club featuring high tech entertainment like Buzztime, the national trivia/sports game network. There will also be a Sounddog wireless tabletop audio system, gigantic flat screen monitors and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems to be used for games, movies or karaoke.
A food court will offer Einstein Brothers' Deli, pizza, Ultimate Baja, Grill 155, and other dining options. A store for early morning or late night needs will offer grab-n-go convenience and a bookstore will also be located on the first floor in addition to a graphics and printing service center.
Lockers will be equipped with electrical outlets so students can safely charge their electronic gear while eating, meeting or taking care of business.
The second floor will include pocket lounges for study, meeting or taking a break. There will be a spacious ballroom with acoustical walls, high-tech meeting and conference rooms with built-in media presentation equipment, and offices.
Sun worshipers can take their meals out to the patio adjoining the club that will face towards Neal Street. By saving the big old trees on site, A&M-Commerce will give the landscaping instant presence.
The building features smart design so that energy costs are saved and natural light will filter into the building but not enter it directly.
"The student center is designed 6 percent off grid so that your eye will naturally follow a line of lights to the amenities, right to the back of the building," Miller said.
The planning and design team consulted with A&M-Commerce students from the beginning. "They told us they want the maximum use of the maximum space, and that is the philosophy guiding the building," Miller said.
In October 2004, A&M-Commerce students passed a referendum by 73.5 percent for an increase in student center fees to fund the new building.
Frank Ashley, interim provost, said that students have led this project from the student referendum to this groundbreaking ceremony. "Our president, Keith McFarland, is proud of our students, past and present, in helping make this a reality." 