The renovation of the UMC is going to continue as planned under the design of By Projects Architecture.
The improvements aim to make the UMC a more relaxed and inviting student center, but with a hefty $2 million dollar budget, some students say they are interested and concerned as to what the plans entail and exactly how they will be funded.
Daniel Ramos, a senior sociology and Spanish major and UCSU Tri-Executive, said that the renovations will make the UMC a “more comfortable and open area” for students to congregate at.
New couches and tables will create a cozier and more relaxed “living room” feel. However, the original plans to incorporate fireplaces into the design have been nixed because of budgetary concerns, said Ramos.
“There might be new TVs, that hasn’t been settled 100 percent yet,” Ramos said. “They would be Energy Star-rated flat screens, somewhere between 44-inch to 52-inch screens.”
Ultimately, the renovation aims to improve the flow of student traffic while achieving a more intimate and student-friendly atmosphere, according to an article previous published by the CU Independent.
“The overall budget for the project is $2 million which includes design and engineering fees,” Garcia said. “The actual construction portion of the budget is about $1.45 million.”
He explained that student fees and revenues from food services at the UMC, like Dominoes and Alferd Packard Grill, are directly funding the renovation project.
All existing food stations will remain but they may be relocated or updated to improve the overall look and layout of the dining area, said Garcia. There will be no additional restaurants added.
As far as the renovation being LEEDs Certified, Garcia said that “the size of the project does not grant eligibility” for certification status. Garcia said that the renovation would still be in line with LEEDs standards.
Students have differing opinions on the proposed renovation.
“I was already pleased with the UMC, but I bet it will be even sicker with the new renovation,” said Renny Ratliff, a 20-year-old sophomore pre-journalism major.
Jeffrey Gabel, a 21-year-old senior film studies major, said he disagrees.
“In my mind, $2 million to renovate the UMC is a waste of money, and I would like to see that money go to something more important, like the film and theater department,” Gabel said.
Garcia said construction is set to begin on June 10 of this year, and is expected to be completed sometime during the fall semester.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jennifer DeFalco at Jennifer.DeFalco@colorado.edu.