The J . Wayne Reitz Union Renovations
A Brand New Student Experience by MAILLE DENISON photos provided by HANNAH FARRELL
The J . Wayne Reitz Union re-opened its doors on February 1 , 2016 , after a two-and-a-half-year renovation and expansion project , to a facility that provides a brand new student experience .
The project began in 2009 , when students launched a campaign pushing for campus leaders to recognize the limited space and deferred maintenance needs of the building . “ What needs students had , we weren ’ t meeting ,” Mike Mironack , Reitz Union Director of Operations said . “ The master plan asked ‘ what do you need ? How can we make the space work for you ?’” And after the completion of a needs assessment and the funding was secured , the campaign was given a green light and the Make It Reitz project began .
From the very start students were involved in every aspect of the project . Staff from both Cannon Design and Walker Architects , the architects of the project , met with students 28 separate times to discuss what students wanted to see in their student union and both students and UF staff alike were asked to submit ideas about the design of the new building . As a result of these meetings the designers soon learned that dance studios were one of the most requested features . “ Twenty years ago , dance wasn ’ t a thing ,” Mironack said . “ Now it ’ s everywhere . We just didn ’ t realize how popular it actually was .” As a result , two dance studios , each with mirrored-walls , wood floors and enough room for a 40-person dance group to fit comfortably were put into the design . Since opening March 1 , 2016 , the studios have been reserved approximately 1,200 times , amounting to nearly 2,700 hours of dancing .
Another major focus of the project was to decrease the building ’ s environmental footprint and become one of the greenest buildings on campus . As such , the Reitz Union took steps to become Leadership in Energy and Environmental
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The ground level of the Reitz Union includes several study chairs for students and a great view of the floating staircase .
Design ( LEED ) Certified . Certification is awarded by the green-building verifier , and is based on energy and water efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions . To accomplish this goal both the expanded and existing portions of the building received low-flow water fixtures ,