After nearly 50 years, the Memorial Student Center undergoes a major renovation and reopens to rave reviews.
Marshall University’s Memorial Student Center stands at the heart of campus, both physically and metaphorically. Opened in 1971 as a memorial to the 75 people who lost their lives in the 1970 plane crash, it stood largely unchanged until the summer of 2019. Then the iconic building underwent a major renovation to update it.
“There are buildings on campus that students identify with their academic major. If you are a history major, you might identify with Harris Hall. But not everyone is a history major. There are only a few spaces on campus that are shared by everyone,” said Dr. Jerome Gilbert, president of Marshall University. “The student center is one of those places. It is a place that affects all our students, so it is important that we have a welcoming student center where students feel comfortable. I knew if we could refresh the student center, students would warmly embrace that area and appreciate that facelift.”
The most striking feature of the renovated student center is the new staircase, with its gleaming metal and glass banisters. The staircase originally connected only the first and second floors. It now extends to the lower level, connecting all three floors of the building and providing easier access to the offices and recreation activities housed on the lower level.
“There are ping pong tables and pool tables on the lower level that some students did not know existed, but now that the staircase leads down, those things are visible to them,” said Hannah Brown, a junior elementary education major.
When surveyed for their feedback on the student center, students consistently said they loved the fireplace, which has always been the focal point of the first-floor lobby. The fireplace remains, but was refaced to better match the building’s brighter look. New seating was installed to provide a variety of comfortable spots for students to socialize or relax. Outlets throughout the lobby allow students to charge their electronic devices. A study alcove located off the main lobby provides a place for students who want to work in a quieter environment. The cafeteria now opens into the lobby, creating a more unified flow between the two spaces, and offers new dining options like Steak and Shake, an expanded Chick-Fil-A and local favorite La Famiglia, which serves homemade pizzas and salads.
“We wanted the renovated building to create a wow effect, and it truly does,” said William “Tootie” Carter, director of business operations for the student center. “Yet, at the same time, we wanted to keep some of the items that set us apart from other student unions such as the fireplace and the openness of the main lobby. It’s much more like a transformation than a renovation.”
First-year political science and mathematics major Cameron Donohue remembers visiting the student center when he would come to campus for events during high school. He is impressed with how modern the building looks now.
“It feels like it is part of a modern university. Before it felt tight — there was not a lot of room to move around. Now it feels very open and it offers a lot of choices of different kinds of spaces students can use to do homework or relax.”
While the student center has a fresh, modern look, it retains its connection to Marshall’s history. As part of the renovation, an interactive photograph of the 1970 football team was installed on one wall of the lobby. Visitors can touch the photo to display a biography of each team member.
The student center is a gathering spot for all Marshall students, but commuters especially appreciate having an updated, comfortable place where they can spend time between classes.
“We have a lot of commuters who may spend the whole day here,” said Carter. “We want to have nice services for them during the time between their classes, whether it’s a comfortable chair in the lobby or a good meal in the cafeteria or a place to meet their friends. We want the student center to be their home away from home.”
Commuter student Darby McCloud, a junior biology-premed major, says the newly renovated space better fits the needs of students and will make a good impression on visitors when they come to campus.
“It is a better place to study now,” McCloud said. “There are so many more students using it. We host the S.C.O.R.E.S. Academic Festival for high schoolers every year. I can’t wait to see their reactions when they see it.”
Carter emphasized that there were many individual and entities involved in the student center renovation.
“We all worked together to make this happen,” Carter said. “From putting together the proposal, the new layout, selecting a contractor, choosing furnishings, paint colors, wall coverings, the new stairs, lighting and more, a lot of time and effort went into this important project. While all this was going on, the building was never closed. I think the key to our success was keeping the lines of communication open.”
The Memorial Student Center is open to the public, although currently there may be some restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing. Gilbert invites members of the community to visit so they can appreciate the renovations, enjoy a meal in the food court and browse in the sprawling bookstore.
“Visiting the Memorial Student Center is a great way for people in the community to get a taste of campus life,” says Gilbert. “The student center is the living room of the campus. I was so pleased we could complete this project for our students.”
About the author: Molly McClennen is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington, West Virginia.
Photos: (From second from top) Standing on the beautiful new staircase and cutting the ceremonial ribbon to reopen the Memorial Student Center on Dec. 5, 2019, are, from left, Susan Aylward, Follett regional manager; Cheryl King, Sodexo general manager; Stephanie Rogner, student body president; William“Tootie” Carter, director of business operations of the student center; and President Jerome Gilbert. The newly-renovated John Marshall Dining Room and Huntington Market offer numerous options for students and faculty including Starbucks, Steak and Shake, an expanded Chick-Fil-A and local Italian favorite La Famiglia. An interactive photograph of the 1970 football team was installed on one wall of the lobby. Visitors can touch the photo to display a biography of each team member. The student center is an icon on campus that is shared by everyone. New seating and an open layout make it even more user-friendly.