Lory Student Center: There’s no place like home

The Lory Student Center isn’t just a building. To say it is would be a true understatement.

For the nearly 30,000 students on the Colorado State University campus, the LSC provides a one-stop shop for their every last need – from books and grub to entertainment and relaxation. It is a place for personal growth and learning, a hub of multiculturalism and social justice, a venue for intellectual dialogue, and a meeting place for friends and colleagues.

The Lory Student Center is a home away from home. And beginning on Jan. 27, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends are invited home for what is sure to be one of the biggest celebrations of the year – the LSC Student Appreciation and Celebration Event, in recognition of the completion of the center’s major overhaul and revitalization.

“I am excited about the renovation of the LSC! I am appreciative of the work that went into making this building so beautiful and such a great place for students, faculty, and staff,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Blanche Hughes.

The Lory Student Center revitalization, which began in 2013, renovated 160,000 square feet and added an additional 40,000 square feet to the student center. It called for updating several 50-year-old mechanical systems, redesigning the south entry of the building for improved circulation, and redesigning the west side of the main and upper levels, including an expansion of the ballroom and food court.

“The Lory Student Center has long been recognized as one of the most active student centers in the country,” said Mike Ellis, executive director of the Lory Student Center and assistant vice president for Student Affairs. “The revitalization of the student center only made sense in that the building had reached its 50-year milestone when the project was approved.  Through the support of students and numerous donors, the LSC renovation has transformed the bricks and mortar of the physical space, reaffirming our role as a world-class student center serving our CSU community.”

Because the LSC is vital to student life on campus, student input was sought throughout the renovation process. The Lory Student Center Governing Board – composed primarily of student volunteers – and the Associated Students of Colorado State University – the university’s student governing board – were instrumental in getting the word out to students through surveys, presentations, and tours. Additionally, each LSC Governing Board chair and ASCSU president assumed different responsibilities, including assisting with the building’s interior design over the course of the project’s renovation.

“We had a lot of input on types of furniture as well as different aesthetic and branding pieces within the student center,” said Brandon Majmudar, current chair of the LSC Governing Board and junior sociology major.

Early on in the planning, it was determined that it would be important for the newly redesigned student center to reflect CSU’s values and rich history. From the Land-Grant and Research walls to the Ram Head installation above the plaza entrance, the new artistic elements in the building serve as a reminder of CSU’s excellence in teaching, research, and service.

“One of my most favorite parts of the new building is the amount of pride that a student can feel walking into it – from the Ram Head installation, to the Land-Grant wall and Research wall on the third floor, you can feel how invested students, staff, and faculty are in making this building feel like the home for students,” said Majmudar.

“This building is more than just a student center. It is more than just the living room of campus – it is a home away from home,” he added.  “So many students, staff, and community members from around the world, around the country, and from down the street have come to know this building as the place they can come to relax, socialize, work, and sometimes even have a little bit of fun.”