The Erb Memorial Union renovation and expansion project started over winter break as planned. The project will create new student collaboration spaces and reinvent the University of Oregon’s student union for the next generation of students.

The EMU renovation and expansion will cost $95 million, and student fees will fund $90 million. The UO is raising the remaining $5 million in private gifts to fully realize the potential of this project. To learn more about giving to the new EMU, contact Lisa Manotti at lmanotti@uoregon.edu.

The project is being rolled out in phases to minimize impacts to the core of campus for students, faculty and staff. See the map below for details about the phases and timelines.

The goal is to keep the facility open during construction, and to provide services at current or alternative locations as much as possible. All food services continue to be available, as do the River Rooms – Alsea, Coquille, Metolius, Owyhee, Rogue and Umpqua. However, reservations for the River Rooms are discouraged during regular business hours due to noise from lower level construction but remain a good option for scheduling after business hours and on weekends.

Phase one began with the relocation of student groups to the ground level of the EMU near “The Buzz ” coffeehouse, the closure of the EMU computer lab, and the relocation of the Outdoor Program to “The Barn” located on 18th Ave. and University Street. A new craft center will open in the renovated location when completed in June 2014.

The contractor for the project is Lease Crutcher Lewis. The company will update maps to assist EMU visitors, neighbors, cyclists and pedestrians with safe routes to navigate around the site throughout the project. Additional signage is expected to be posted soon as well.

Demolition of the 1970s portion of the EMU – the east portion of the facility – will begin in May and all work is expected to be completed during the summer of 2016.

-  by Julie Brown, UO Office of Strategic Communications