TCU celebrated opening of the new Brown-Lupton University Union

Fort Worth, TX

8/29/2008

TCU officially celebrated the opening of the Brown-Lupton University Union, Tuesday, Sept. 2 through Saturday, Sept. 6 with a variety of events and activities including an appearance by former Congressman Charlie Wilson, music, a ribbon cutting, a balloon release and a performance by the TCU Marching Band and country music star Pat Green.  Public tours of the Union were available Saturday, Sept. 6.

“We are creating an unsurpassed, 24/7 student experience,” said TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. “The Brown-Lupton University Union and other new facilities are remarkable. But at TCU we’re not just constructing new facilities – we’re building lives.”

“The new Campus Commons, consisting of the Brown-Lupton University Union, four new residence halls, and a grand, open greenscape, will provide a new intersection for student learning and interaction,” said Dr. Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs. “We anticipate that this new Union will become the core center of activity for campus.”

The Union houses Market Square, an 18,000-square-foot dining facility featuring indoor and outdoor seating; a convenience store; a late night eatery called 1873 Café & Sports Grill; a post office; a 350-seat theater for movies, lectures and performances; and a ballroom that can serve up to 1,000 people. Student Affairs staff and Student Government Association, as well as Student Organization groups, also will be located in this facility.

In recent years, TCU has invested more than $500 million in new and renovated facilities. In recent years, TCU has invested more than $500 million in new facilities and upgrades to campus classrooms, laboratories and residence halls and increased campus facility square footage to 3, 495,971 from 2,273,021 in 1994.  

New and renovated facilities in the past two years include a renovation and addition for the College of Education; the TCU Barnes & Noble, Inc. College Bookstore; four new residence halls (Kellye Wright Samuelson Hall, Amon G. Carter Hall, Teresa and Luther King Hall and Mary and Robert J. Wright Hall); the Brown-Lupton University Union; and Clarence and Kelly Scharbauer Hall, a new academic facility that will house the John V. Roach Honors College, and AddRan College of Liberal Arts. Renovated residence halls include Clark, which opened this fall as a co-ed residence hall; Jarvis, which re-opened this fall as office space; and Sherley, which will open in summer of ’09.

Athletics also has added new and renovated facilities including the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility and the Dutch Meyer Athletic Complex & Abe Martin Academic Enhancement Center. The Meyer Complex and Martin Academic Center were dedicated Friday, Sept. 5.

Tours of the new Union were available during the opening celebration week from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday. Other activities included:

Tuesday, Sept. 2
11 a.m.: Dedication of Union with remarks from Chancellor Boschini and others, a ribbon cutting and balloon release
7 p.m.: Viewing of The History Channel’s “The Real Story of Charlie Wilson” (tickets for this event are sold out)

Wednesday, Sept. 3
Noon: Jim Wright Symposium featuring former Congressman Charlie Wilson (tickets for this event are sold out)

Thursday, Sept. 4
10:30 a.m.: Grand opening of Market Square, The Corner Store and 1873 Café & Sports Grill
7 p.m.: Kinomondo film in the University Union Ballroom

Saturday, Sept. 6
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.: public tours of the new Union

To view video of the new facilities, go to www.newsevents.tcu.edu/newfacilities.asp