Oklahoma Memorial Union
| Oklahoma Memorial Union University of Oklahoma | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Type | Student union |
| Coordinates | 35°12′35″N 97°26′37″W / 35.20972°N 97.44361°WCoordinates: 35°12′35″N 97°26′37″W / 35.20972°N 97.44361°W |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Renovated | Clock tower 1936, 1951, 2007 |
| Website | |
| http://union.ou.edu | |
The Oklahoma Memorial Union (OMU) is the University of Oklahoma's student union, or student activity center. The Union was completed in 1928 as a memorial to the students, faculty, and staff of the University who fought and died in World War I.
The Union has more than 26 meeting and activity rooms and eight dining kiosks. The Meacham Auditorium has 400 seats, and the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom, on the third floor, seats up to 500 banquet guests.
OU students began an effort to build a student union in 1921. The movement grew, and by 1925 serious efforts began for construction of a combination student union and football stadium. The original architect's drawing for the combined facility showed a facade quite similar to the present day union. However, the consolidated union/stadium was scrapped after football coach Bennie Owen said it would be best to build two structures, a stadium and a student union, instead of one. Construction of the Union began in 1929 at an original cost of US$350,000, which came from the million dollar fundraising campaign – the first in the University's history – to build both structures.
The plans called for the construction of the outer shell of the building so it could be filled in with offices and rooms as the University grew. When the central part of the Union was finished, students and faculty enjoyed a large cafeteria, a book exchange, and a large open area with two regulation-sized bowling alleys and several pool & snooker tables on the ground floor. Offices, a men's lounge, and the ballroom were located on the second and third floors. The Union's landmark 99-foot (30 m) clock tower was completed in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project. Carillon bells were installed in the tower in 1955.
When enrollment at the University skyrocketed after World War II ended, momentum increased to complete the interior of the structure. The north and south wings of the building, including the Meacham Auditorium, were completed in 1951 for $2.3 million. The cafeteria expanded into the north wing and was renamed the Will Rogers Cafeteria, to honor Will Rogers. Small retail shops opened on the ground floor, and student groups and some administration offices occupied the first and second floors of the south wing.
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