\updated August 2, 2007

1. Why is the Tate Student Center being expanded?

The Tate Student Center Expansion and Renovation project will drastically increase space for student programs and activities in the heart of the UGA campus. Tate Student Center is a hub of activity on campus, and once the expansion and renovation is completed, UGA students will have access to one of the finest student centers in the country.

2. The current construction looks like a parking deck, not a student center. What gives?

The first phase of the project is the construction of a 500-space parking deck, currently underway on the site of the former N11 parking lot. When the deck is in its final stages of construction, 18 inches of dirt and a layer of grass will be put on top of it, and the Tate Student Center expansion will be built on top of that. During construction, a driveway will remain for service vehicles to access the Tate Student Center and the Bulldog Café. It will also continue to be used for the Dawg Walk during football season.

3. Will students be able to use the parking deck?

The new deck will be a pay-by-the-hour facility. Students will be able to park in the new deck free of charge after 6:00 p.m. Once the deck is completed, it will be operational throughout the construction of the new Student Center and the renovation of the current Tate Student Center.

4. Will the pay lot next to Tate Student Center continue to operate?

The pay lot will continue to operate with minor disruptions until the new parking deck is completed. Once the entire expansion and renovation project is finished, the pay lot will be replaced with a park-like green space that will include a refurbishing of the Tanyard Creek area.

5. What sorts of facilities will be in the new Tate Student Center expansion and in the renovated Tate Student Center?

The new building will house an 11,000-square foot multi-purpose space on the fifth floor; a dining room, meeting rooms, and lounge seating on the fourth floor; and a food court, retail space, Print & Copy Services, a large lounge area, gaming area, and open performance space on the third floor. This third floor will also connect to the third level of the existing building. The existing building will house new studios for WUOG 90.5 FM (the student-run radio station), dance rehearsal rooms for student organizations, and a new UGACard office on the site of the current Tate Art Gallery.

The Tate Theater, Bulldog Café, Cashier’s Window, Business Office, and administrative offices will remain in the existing building. On the first floor of the existing Tate Student Center, Georgia Hall will be renovated into a two-story office suite housing the Center for Leadership and Service, the Greek Life Office, and the Center for Student Organizations.

6. What about the first and second floors of the new building?

The two levels of the parking deck are considered to be the first two floors of the new building. Hence, the new building itself actually begins on level three and will connect to the existing Tate Student Center on its third (top) floor.

Take a look at the schematic drawings for a more detailed looked at the building’s interior.

7. When will all this construction be finished?

Phase one, the parking deck (currently under construction), is scheduled to be finished by August, 2008. Construction on the new building will begin in October 2007 as work continues on the deck. The expansion should be finished in spring 2009.

Keep in mind that a number of mitigating factors can affect major construction projects, including materials deliveries and (most importantly) inclement weather. Therefore, all deadlines are best estimates.

8. What about renovations to the existing Tate Student Center?

Georgia Hall will be closed on November 19, 2007 and its conversion to office space will begin in December 2007. It is scheduled to be completed by December 2008.

9. What will the project cost?

The total budget for the Tate Student Center Expansion and Renovation is $58.2 million.

10. Who are the members of the project team?

The architects for the project are Cooper Carry, a major international firm with offices in Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York, and Newport Beach, California. Cooper Carry has significant experience designing buildings for colleges and universities. The interior design and programming was conducted by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City.

The building is being constructed by Holder Construction Company of Atlanta. Holder is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 100 contractors.