May 29, 2009

CONTACT: Willie L. Banks, Jr., 706-542-7774, willieb@uga.edu
WRITER: Don Reagin, 706-542-8539, dreagin@uga.edu

Tate Student Center expansion to open June 1

ATHENS, Ga. – After four years of planning and construction, the Dean William Tate Student Center expansion at the University of Georgia will open on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. The $60 million project was funded through an increase in the student activity fee approved by the UGA student body in 2005.

The 100,000-square-foot expansion doubles the size of the student center, which originally opened in 1983. An official dedication ceremony will be held on August 20, 2009.

The Tate Student Center expansion includes a 12,000 square-foot ballroom that may be subdivided into seven smaller rooms; six conference rooms; multiple lounges and seating areas; a small amphitheater with a projection system and 17-foot screen; Print & Copy Services; and the Dawg Pen, a sports lounge.

The Tate Café food court contains Barberitos Southwestern Grill, Larry’s Giant Subs, and Hotei’s, an Asian eatery developed by UGA Food Services. The Taste of Home Café serves breakfast and lunch and features recipes submitted by families of UGA students.

A signature feature of the expansion is a 15-foot tile UGA arch embedded in the floor just inside the main entrance off the new Alumni Plaza. The two-story open lobby features dramatic lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light to flood the building.

“Members of the UGA community, especially students, will be proud of the first-rate facility that has been built with their needs in mind,” said Willie L. Banks, Jr., director of the Department of Campus Life and the Tate Student Center.

“This facility is the culmination of a 23-year dream to complete the second phase of the student center, a project anticipated from the very beginning. We are thrilled with the final product, and we know that it will greatly enhance the UGA experience for current and future generations of students.”

The architects for the project are Cooper Carry, a major international firm with significant experience designing buildings for colleges and universities. The interior design and programming was conducted by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City.

The building was constructed by Holder Construction Company of Atlanta. Holder is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 100 contractors. A student advisory board has been actively involved in the planning and construction process.

The Tate Student Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until midnight when classes are in session. Hours of operation vary during breaks and holidays.

For more information, log on to www.uga.edu/campuslife or call 706-542-7774.
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The Tate Student Center is a facility of the Department of Campus Life, within UGA’s Division of Student Affairs.