UAH community to celebrate Charger Union grand opening Jan. 8

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Jan 3, 2014) - The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will host the grand opening celebration of Charger Union, on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The UAH community is invited to attend the daylong celebration beginning at 10 a.m., with the grand opening ribbon cutting and reception. The Charger Union connects with the campus greenway and Lakeside Drive.

According to Dr. Regina Young Hyatt, dean of students and associate vice president for Student Affairs, special guests invited to the ribbon cutting include the Charger Union (CU) planning team (UAH staff and students), UAH President Bob Altenkirch, university architects, recent Student Government Association (SGA) presidents involved with the project, and local dignitaries.

The CU grand opening will be celebrated in conjunction with the UAH spring semester Week of Welcome (WOW) activities, Jan. 8-11. WOW events can be found at: http://www.uah.edu/student-life/special-events/week-of-welcome/. A CU event schedule can be found at http://www.uah.edu/student-affairs/charger-union. Highlights of the day's events include tours, roving artists, food samples, music, prizes, comedy show and a late-night movie.

According to UAH architect Larrell Hughes, construction began on the CU in July 2012. The building, located on the south side of Holmes Avenue is approximately 100,000 square feet, and adjoins a bridge between the CU theater, and the main body of the building. "The CU is a super space with unique fixtures and sculptures, great contemporary use of the UAH Charger mascot, and sleek blue lighting illuminating the building and campus greenway and plaza areas," said Hughes.

The CU will house several retailers including Dunkin' Donuts, World of Wings, the UAH Barnes & Noble Bookstore and copy center. Hyatt said additional student service departments include Student Life - SGA, Association of Campus Entertainment, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Charger Times, Veteran's Network, Leadership Office, Student Organizations Suite - Dean of Students/Student Affairs and Student Engagement and Transitions, Charger Union administrative offices, and the AVP for Auxiliary Services.

"The University Center (UC) will remain open and will house several offices that will temporarily be moved due to the reconstruction of Madison Hall. Remaining in the UC will be the University Preschool Learning Center, Student Health Center, Bursar, Student Financial Services, Charger Central, and a few more departments," said Hyatt.

Security for the new building is tight and monitored through a variety of cameras which are located in and around the CU. In addition, many of the student life offices and spaces are accessed through a card swipe system. The building's information desk will be staffed daily during normal operating hours, 7 a.m., to 1 a.m.