Individual office space, carpeted halls, lockers and large desks at the University are no longer unique to top executives.
Yesterday marked the grand opening of the Michigan Union's fourth floor, an office area now reserved exclusively for student organizations.
Originally home to hotel rooms, the top floor of the Union now houses an uncarpeted room for banner production, a rehearsal room with mirrors and a dance floor, and a Student Resource Center complete with copiers and computers.
John Mountz, the coordinator of the union's Arts and Programs, said the resource center is their "newest project" and is a "concept geared to meet student demands."
But the media site is only part of the recent renovations. Hallways lined with 53 newly-installed offices cover the roughly 18,000 square feet of the Union's top floor.
"It used to be very ugly up here," said Martin Sichle, Engineering professor and tour guide at yesterday's event.
Sichle said the project has progressed from sketchy plans in 1979 to renovations that began in January 1996.
"The original staircase goes up (to the fourth floor)," Sichle said. "Most of the other features are newly designed to meet fire codes."
The project has taken more than a decade to complete and perfect, but student organization representatives agreed that the finished product was worth the wait.
Tushar Sheth, a member of the Indian American Student Association, said having space in the Union will "keep everything centralized."
Edith Pauley, the programming chair of Alianza, said that the Union's central location is key to an effective organization.
"Right now we're located in the Perry Building," Pauley said. "The Union would give students better access to (our organization)."
Other groups have different reasons to praise the project.
"We used to be located on the second floor of the Union," said Leslie Soranno, a University Activities Committee member. "It's just so much nicer up here."
Despite the positive response by organizations from all over campus, not all groups are guaranteed space on the fourth floor. Organizations were required to fill out applications and compete for an office.
Ian Lucas, Michigan Student Assembly representative and member of the committee for space allocation, said there were "just about the right number of requests for space," which means that most organizations will get an office.
However, Lucas said some groups will likely have to share space.
"We also have about 38 lockers for storage," Lucas said. "If an organization doesn't get an office, they'll get first crack at these storage spaces."
The announcement of space allocation will be made within the next two weeks, and some group members said they are holding their breath.
Roger Ruedisueli, a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a band service fraternity, said he really hopes his group gets space allocation.
"We really don't have anywhere at Revelli (Marching Band Hall) to work with," he said. "We have a large organization, so hopefully we'll have a good chance at getting an office."
If this year's attempt at space doesn't work out, there is always next year, said Sichle, who added that allocations will be made on an annual basis.
The groups will move in as soon as allocation is announced.
Until then, the newly renovated top-of-the-line facilities will be reaping the approval of many people, including University President Lee Bollinger, who offered his congratulations yesterday to everyone "who stuck it out."
Other speakers told those assembled that the renovation project's completion symbolized the end of a journey.
"The idea of this day has been passed like a torch from student to student," Paul Schissler, a member of the Alumni Association, said in a speech. "Finally, today, we celebrate the realization of a dream and a job well done."
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
University President Lee Bollinger and MSA Vice President Olga Savic meet for the first time yesterday at the opening of the Michigan Union's fourth floor.