Groundbreaking for an Atherton Union addition

Description:	From left to right, Faculty Assembly Chair Dr. W. Kent Van Tyle (Class of 1967); Butler University Board of Trustees Chair Paul Schmidt, M.D.; Alumni Association President Jamene Phillippe (Class of 1973); Student Government Association President Robert P. Benson (Class of 1993); and University President Geoffrey Bannister, pose with shovels at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Atherton Union addition on Friday, October 9, 1992. They are all wearing hard hats that say Verkler, which was the company that managed the construction of the project. After the ceremony, attendees were treated to a construction themed lunch. First opening on January 3, 1950, and designed by the architectural firm of McGuire and Shook, Atherton Union was originally named the John Whistler Atherton Center, in honor of John W. Atherton (Class of 1900), who served for 26 years as the secretary-treasurer for the University. Four decades later, the administration of Butler University felt the building was not being used to its true potential. A group of students, faculty, board of trustee members, administrators, and parents were tasked with making recommendations for improvements to the building. University administrators felt this work would transform the space into what they considered to be a true student union, a gathering place, and a hub of activity for all students. Architect Jonathan Hess of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. designed the updates to the building, including a 24,000 square-foot addition at the southern end. New features added to the basement included a fitness center, a student lounge with a television, and a billiards room. The main floor additions included a coffee house, a conference room, an assembly hall, and campus offices, and a campus welcome center was added with the plan that it would be staffed 24 hours a day. Furthermore, elevators and lifts were added to make the building accessible and air conditioning was installed. The cost of the renovation and expansion was between four and five million dollars. Renamed Atherton Union, the grand opening was held on Friday, August 27, 1993.
Origin:	1992-10-09
Source:	http://palni.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/BldgsGrnds/id/1740
Collection:	Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Copyright:	In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Geography:	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 39.837091, -86.172202 39.837091 -86.172202
Subjects:	Student unions Shovels College presidents College teachers Butler University--Faculty Butler University--Employees Butler University--Alumni and alumnae College students College trustees Butler University--Buildings College buildings Butler University--History Indianapolis (Ind.)--History Groundbreaking ceremonies Bannister, Geoffrey Benson, Robert P. Phillippe, Jamene Schmidt, Paul Tyle, W. Kent van People John Whistler Atherton Center Atherton Union Hard hats Hess, Jonathan Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc. Fairview campus

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