MSU Union Food Court

Union Square Food Court Neon Sign
Union Square Food Court Interior

One Union Square Food Court, in the MSU Union, has been around for many years, but it hasn’t had a facelift in quite some time. Recently its improvements include overall painting, ceiling work, and renovating the first dining area as you enter the Food Court. As is the case in The Gallery in Snyder/Phillips Halls and in several of the renovated Sparty’s coffeehouses, comfort is king. We’ve created spaces where people love to relax and socialize, while taking advantage of the great food services we offer. In the initial phase, booth seating was developed to fit specialized areas, and old tabletops, carved with initials and memorabilia from years past, were placed under glass and put into use as large coffee tables in the center of comfortable seating groups. To add to the ambience, three flat screen TVs were installed on the wall. Already, this area is a favorite spot for students and staff.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 December 12

Substantial work has concluded at the Union, with the installation of artwork, digital signage and some lighting as the only remaining tasks. This represents the completion of a major renovation for the building, which features a new look for the main lobby area, the study lounge and the food court.

The main lobby area is now expanded from the previous walkway that connected the east and west entrances of the Union. The space once occupied by the Union Central Store is now open, bordered by a Spartys and a seating area. The ATM area has also been renovated and there is a centrally located Welcome Center help desk.

The food court venues have been completely remodeled, featuring new store fronts, signage and condiment areas. Also new to the food court is a check-out desk servicing the new Sparty’s and a new food storage area. The food court seating area remains unchanged.

The study lounge in the southern area of the Union has undergone some of the more drastic renovations. The entire room has new carpeting and lighting, as well as a new raised stage in the northern section of the lounge. This stage is surrounded by a ramp and set of stairs that connect the lower-lying lounge to the central walkway above.

Finally, the information board located in the walkway in front of the Spartan Spirit Shop has been removed. In its place will be a digital honor roll which will be put in place later this year.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 November 13

Renovations to the MSU Union are nearing completion, with a majority of the work complete in the Union’s food court, main walkway and lounge areas. With completion of the electrical work and food court storage areas, the project is substantially complete.

In the Union’s food court, new storefronts for all the venues are up, as well as the condiment and drink stations. Only clean-up and finishing loose ends with regards to electrical work remain before the area is ready to open for business. The area will re-open in mid-November.

The main walking area is also nearly complete. Installation of an ATM has just finished and a separate construction group is progressing on the Biggby coffee shop that will be filling the spot previously occupied by the U.S. Post Office. The removal of the Union Central Store has opened up a wider stretch for the main walkway connecting the Union’s east and west entrances. This wider walkway is now connected to the Union’s large study lounge in the southern section of the building by a ramp and a set of stairs that bookend a new raised stage. The lounge also has new carpeting and lighting installed, and furniture will be going in soon. A centrally located information desk is also close to being finished.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 October 23

The MSU Union’s Food Court, main walkway and lounge are all starting to take shape as construction crews install the drywall and concrete in each area.

Drywall pillars now stand in place of where the Union Central Store used to be, showing signs of what will eventually be a more open walkway through the Union. Spaces have been designated for the walkway seating and the Biggby coffee shop, which will be located next to the West entrance of the building. Additionally, work is progressing on new fronts for the food court venues.

In the Union’s lower-lounge area, construction crews have poured concrete to set the foundation for a raised platform and a ramp that will connect the lower lounge with the raised walkway.

Finally, renovations to the Spartan Spirit Shop have been completed. The shop opened for the first home game of the football season and is now fully operational.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 September 10

The new additions to the MSU Union are starting to take shape as work progresses on the food court, lounge and Spartan Spirit Shop areas.

With the Union Central Store completely removed, frames are going up to map out the areas where store fronts, drink dispensers and condiment stations will eventually stand. The newly erected wall frames serve to etch out where the new walkway through the Union will stand.

The large lounge area on the southern end of the Union is still serving as the staging area for materials needed in other areas of the building. However, construction crews have begun to lay the framework for a raised platform that will serve to connect the lower laying lounge area with the higher elevated walkway. Crews are also setting up for a ramp and stairway that will run down from the walkway to the lounge area.

Renovations to the Spartan Spirit Shop are nearing completion, as the store opened last week for the first football game of the year. New shelves have been installed, as well as a new checkout desk which is in a more central location in the store.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 August 6

The Union has undergone a great deal of demolition, as the Central Store has been completely removed to make way for a larger walkway and new storefronts. The large area where the Central Store used to be is now being connected with the venues in the Food Court to make for easier walking behind the storefronts. The Food Court venues are also being removed to make way for new, more consistent fronts.

The carpet in the lounge area has been removed and it is currently serving as a staging area for the demolition work being conducted in the former Union Central Store area.

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 July 11

Large sections of the Union’s first floor have been demolished, setting the stage for renovations. Crews are still working on clearing out the food court to make way for new store fronts. The Union Central Store and the Spartan Spirit Shop have been cleaned out but have yet to undergo any renovations. The walls of Union Central will eventually be brought down to make way for a larger walking area.

The Post Office has also been cleaned out, making way for the installation of a Biggby, which will be moving from its original location on the building’s east side.

With the focus on the food court and Central Store areas, the lounge and its adjacent hallways have not received attention yet. The ceiling of the lounge has light fixtures removed in anticipation of asbestos abatement

MSU Union Renovations
MSU Union Renovations
 June 15

The first of the changes being made will be moving the area occupied by the Union Central Shop back from its current location to be more intertwined with the food court area it currently borders. The Union Central Station will also be replaced with a Sparty’s Express. This work will be done in conjunction with work on the food court, which will include upgrading the food court’s store fronts and redesigning the hallways between food court venues. With the Union Central Store moving back, more free space in the center of the Union will be opened up. This will allow for the installment of more seating areas to accommodate increased foot traffic coming through and visiting Bigby’s which will be moving from its current location in the Union to the area currently occupied by former the U.S. Post Office location.

The Union’s main lounge area will also be improved. This area will receive new carpets with touch ups to the wall treatments. Additionally the glass case located just outside the lounge will be replaced with a digital board featuring members of the Dean’s List.

The lounge will also become more connected to the upper-level concourse that runs in front of the Union Central Store. This will be accomplished with the addition of an accessibility ramp and more open dividers between areas.

The final work to be done involves the Spartan Spirit Shop, which will be receiving a number of upgrades. Crews will be putting in new carpet and replacing many of the racks with new display areas for different kinds of merchandise. A new children’s merchandise area will also be put in, and the cashier’s office will be moved to a more convenient location on the other side of the shop.

One Union Square Food Court
One Union Square Food Court
 August 24

The partial renovation at the One Union Square Food Court in the MSU Union is now complete. The first seating area as you enter the Food Court has been completely redone, now featuring three flat screen televisions on the wall, and several clever conversational areas and booths, fitted to their unique spaces (photo above & photo below, left). Old tabletops from the MSU Union, carved with names and other memorabilia from decades past, have been covered with glass and incorporated into two large coffee tables, centered among comfortable chairs. There are several accessible tables, where wheelchairs can fit underneath; these are labeled with the universal handicap symbol (photo below, right). Further renovations to the Food Court area are planned in the near future.