The new Student Union has easy indoor-outdoor flow to enhance student life, contributing to the ‘see and be seen’ atmosphere. The Town Center, at the crossroads of building entries, creates a vibrant student gathering space, the grand stair can be used casually or be populated with students for events such as movie night or watching the Big Game on the projection screen.

The building massing establishes a courtyard, paying homage to the storied campus amphitheater, providing a flexible, outdoor entertainment zone that can be used as pre-function space for multipurpose rooms, Vintage Days, or student organizations. The bustle of the Town Center, supported by bold branding elements, permeates outward further activating the courtyard.

Students approaching campus from neighborhoods and bus routes to the south are invited to meander through the Student Union via the inviting south entry…grab a coffee or a meal, meet friends, engage in clubs & organizations, and then head to class out the north side.

The Student Union provides a home away from home during the day, between classes, for moments of respite or nourishment, or to socialize and engage. The design of the lounge and “campus living room” meanders throughout the building offering varying scales of engagement and a myriad of options for students to utilize.

The approach to the Student Union enhances Fresno State’s designation as an arboretum, extending pathways around the redwood grove to the north and providing direct sight lines to the beloved Monkey Puzzle Tree to the south.