Project Statement

For many years, the W.O. Young Building served well as the student union in the heart of the Arkansas Tech University campus. The new Ferguson Student Union recognized its predecessor’s importance on campus as a central hub and expanded the program to meet the current student needs of the growing university.
ATU’s rich heritage of protecting and enhancing campus green spaces is embodied in the project by connecting the open areas to the forests surrounding Russellville. The new student union and the new Mullens Plaza to the north weave together as an anchor to enliven the campus core as a place for students and faculty to gather, meet, and connect. The university removed “O” Street and adjacent parking lots from the center of campus, allowing students to walk freely into and through the new plaza and building. Extensive floor-to-ceiling glazed windows seamlessly connect the building's dynamic interior with the constant energy of the plaza. The joint conception of both was a very important design strategy to unify experiences that flow through the disparate functions of the Ferguson Student Union and natural setting of the new Mullens Plaza.
Once inside, a double height lobby and front desk welcome and orient visitors. The building then opens into a series of connected spaces that support, both, programmed events and informal use. Utilizing student feedback in the planning process, designers were able to plan the facility to meet the current needs of those who use and work at the complex. At 70,634 square feet, the complex is organized around flexibility, visibility, and ease of movement. Spatially, it intentionally layers different functions into a shared environment where activity is visible, and energy carries from one space to another. Lounge/study areas are spread between individual and group fitness rooms, student organization spaces, dining, retail, and multipurpose meeting rooms. Large gathering areas encourage collaboration and student engagement, while smaller seating zones provide places for study, conversation, and retreat. This balance between openness and privacy allows the building to serve a wide range of student needs throughout the day.
In addition to creating a vibrant space for students, the Ferguson Student Union will host intercollegiate esports competitions, which continue to surge in popularity. Other features include a flexible gymnasium space for various sports, such as pickleball and basketball.
The new amenities to the campus include:
• Student Organization Offices
• Living Room Lounge
• Cardio and Free Weights Gym
• Group Fitness Studios
• Outdoor Recreation Activity Support and Bike Repair
• Food Service and Dining
• Event Space and Meeting Rooms
The students voted for an increase in student fees to fund the project and were fully engaged in the planning and programing processes. Utilizing this extensive student input, the design team envisioned a vibrant facility that fully meets the desires and expectations of the today’s student body and faculty as well as those for decades to come.
The Ferguson Student Union serves as a defining gateway to the university and a central hub for student life. The project is a sequence of welcoming spaces, beginning with a new pedestrian plaza for walking to class, campus gatherings, or relaxing in the sun. A terraced front porch overlooks the tree-lined landscape filled with movement and student life. Inside, the main entry acts as an open invitation to student union programming and a new campus recreation center, showcasing everything from esports to group fitness. This central ‘living room’ helps students quickly see how they can connect and find their place within campus life at ATU.
"Ferguson Student Union is unlike anything that has previously existed at Arkansas Tech University," said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president. "It is the result of many years of thoughtful planning and input from our students and our professional staff in student affairs. Ferguson Student Union, in combination with the Mullens Plaza and forthcoming improvements to the Hindsman Tower lawn, will enhance Arkansas Tech's reputation as having one of the most beautiful university campuses in the region.”