J. Wayne Reitz Union

Infobox_University


name = J. Wayne Reitz Student Union
established = 1967
type = Student Union
director = Eddie Daniels
city = Gainesville, Florida
country = USA
students =
campus =
website= [http://www.union.ufl.edu/ union.ufl.edu] The J. Wayne Reitz Union is the student union of the University of Florida, located on Museum Road on the UF campus in Gainesville, Florida.

History

The original student union was called the Florida Union, and opened in 1936 in a building also known as the Florida Union (which eventually became Dauer Hall). The fund raising was helped by United States Senator William James Bryan, and he was aided by the students who agreed to pay an extra fee so that the facility could be built. However in time, the sentiment was that this building was too small and a new student union would have to be erected to meet the demands. [http://www.union.ufl.edu/information/history/ Union History - J. Wayne Reitz Union] ]

Plans for the new facility were crafted in 1948, however the project wasn't approved until May of 1962. It took exactly 2 years to secure funding, and the ground breaking was on May 9, 1964. The building was officially completed and opened to the students on May 1, 1967. Financing for the union was accomplished by a statewide revenue certificate program for higher education generated and supported by fees of students of all state institutions of Florida. The financial start was in October 1951, when the student body voted a small fee to be set aside for the construction of this facility. Subsequent actions by the student body, the University administration, the Board of Control (now the Board of Regents), and the State Board of Education made the union possible. There were no tax funds used in the construction or furnishings of the building.

The union was named in honor of University President J. Wayne Reitz.

Facility Specifics

*In 1967, the official size of the structure was 267,000 square feet.
*The total cost at that time was $5.7 million.
*The cost of construction was $4.4 million.
*The architects for the project were Barrett, Daffin and Bishop of Tallahassee, Florida, and Moore and May of Gainesville, Florida. [http://www.union.ufl.edu/information/history/ Union History - J. Wayne Reitz Union] ]

Union Amenities

The Student Union is home to many services and shops for student convenience. Shops are owned by both corporations and the University, and upper floors contain meeting rooms for student clubs and a hotel. The union is eight floors including the basement/plaza. A full map of the building is viewable [http://www.union.ufl.edu/buildingmaps/ here] .

Basement

*Arts and Crafts Center
*Several meeting rooms
*Gator Dining Services satellite office
*Maintenance, A/V Services, Productions, Housekeeping, and IT Services department offices

Ground Floor

*Orange and Brew (bar/coffeeshop/restaurant)
*Do it Reitz (copy and mailing center)
*Freshens
*Taco Bell
*Game room, including bowling alley
*Gator 1 Central (student ID card services)
*Reitz Union Hair Company (barbershop)
*Talking Walls (frame shop)
*Wachovia (bank)

First Floor

*University Box Office
*University Bookstore
*Information desk
*Indoor food court, including a Wendy's, Subway, and Starbucks
*Event Services Office

econd Floor

*Grand Ballroom
*Rion Ballroom
*Reitz Union Cinema (auditorium often used as a movie theater)
*University Gallery
*Meeting rooms

Third Floor

*Student Government offices
*Reitz Union Board
*Center for Student Activities and Involvement
*Office of Campus Programs
*Student Legal Services (including notary services)
*Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs (office of the Division of Student Affairs dealing with fraternities and sororities)
*Classic Fare Catering
*Several meeting rooms

Fourth Floor

*Arredondo Room and Micanopy Room, a restaurant
*Room 404 (formerly the President's Dining Room)

Fifth and Sixth Floors

* Reitz Union Hotel

External links

* [http://www.union.ufl.edu/ J. Wayne Reitz Student Union]
* [http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalogarchive/03-04-catalog/student-information/union.html Info about the Student Union]
* [http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/archome/Series85.htm Historic records of the Student Union]
* [http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/ufarch/reitz.htm Architeture of the Union]
* [http://www.alligator.org/pt2/070815landmarks.php Alligator article about the Union]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFDP1QZ_pmw Youtube video of the Student Union]

References