Arkansas Tech University on Thursday plans to start the first phase of construction on a new student union and recreation center.
The $50 million project will provide space for a campus living room and lounge, outdoor recreation, individual and group fitness activities, student organizations, events, food services and more.
The facility is being built on land previously occupied by the W.O. Young Building, which was demolished in late 2022 and early 2023. Site work is projected to begin in June with construction scheduled to begin in earnest later this year, the university said in a news release.
The new facility is expected to open at the Russellville campus in the summer of 2025.
MBL Architecture of Fayetteville was selected as the lead design firm for the project. Planning and engineering firm SmithGroup of Detroit has provided support from its Dallas office.
Kinco Constructors LLC of Little Rock is the construction manager on the project.
Last year, the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board authorized the issuance of $29.8 million in 30-year bonds with an interest rate of approximately 6% to help fund the project. The rest of the funding is expected to come from auxiliary student fee revenue and educational and general revenue.
