University Student Centers at N.C. State opened the first part of the newly renovated Talley Student Union Wednesday. 

Jason’s Deli, Los Lobos Grill, Red Sky Pizza, Tuffy’s Diner and the Talley Market are new dining venues located in phase I section of the student union.

Talley staff handed out koozies, t-shirts and brochures to the mass of students that rushed the building.  Lines of students streamed out the door and students who arrived early were among the first to lounge on new furniture while they ate food from five new dining venues.

“It’s exciting to be a part of the new face of N.C. State.” said Bethaney Lewis, a senior studying nutrition science. “It feels great to be part of the legacy.”

The chancellor walked through the crowded lines of people, greeting smiling students who were devouring their N.C. State-made ice cream.

“It’s very modern and pleasing to the eye” Alex Edmiston, a junior in business, said. “The windows made it look very spacious.”

This renovation is the first part of the first phase of a $120 million, four-year project.  Once fully complete, the 283,000 square foot building will be five stories high, with seven food venues and a 50,000-gallon cistern for rain collection. 

In its final form, Talley Student Union will include a room for multicultural student affairs, a women’s center, a GLBT center, a CSLEPS room and a room for Greek life.

In addition to the meeting rooms for various organizations the new building will include a 12,000 square feet ballroom and will be the new location for the N.C. State bookstore.

In a Campus Enterprises press release Tim Hogan, director of University Student centers said that Talley Student Union will be a hub for students and their college experiences. 

According to Hogan, Talley Student Union exists to reinvigorate the idea of College Unions at N.C. State. Hogan said that as the phased project opens each additional service, venue, space and department will bring the vision of reinvigoration to life.

In the press release, Wesley Lo, a senior in business administration and president of the Student Centers Board of Directors, said that the new student union helps to make N.C. State a place of learning, collaboration and service life. 

According to Lo, the new student union is a building that students will certainly enjoy.