- 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 theUniversity of Florida , located on Museum Road on the UF campus inGainesville, 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 becameDauer Hall ). The fund raising was helped by United States SenatorWilliam 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 of1962 . It took exactly 2 years to secure funding, and the ground breaking was onMay 9 ,1964 . The building was officially completed and opened to the students onMay 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 October1951 , 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.
*Thearchitects for the project were Barrett, Daffin and Bishop ofTallahassee, 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 officesGround Floor
*Orange and Brew (bar/
coffeeshop /restaurant )
*Do it Reitz (copy and mailing center)
*Freshens
*Taco Bell
*Game room , includingbowling 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
*Indoorfood court , including aWendy's , Subway, andStarbucks
*Event Services Officeecond Floor
*Grand Ballroom
*Rion Ballroom
*Reitz Union Cinema (auditorium often used as amovie theater )
*University Gallery
*Meeting roomsThird Floor
*Student Government offices
*Reitz Union Board
*Center for Student Activities and Involvement
*Office of Campus Programs
*Student Legal Services (includingnotary services)
*Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs (office of the Division of Student Affairs dealing withfraternities and sororities )
*Classic Fare Catering
*Several meeting roomsFourth 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
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