“The W.O. Young Building served well as the student union in the heart of the ATU campus for many years,” said Audy Lack, AIA, LEED AP, principal at MBL Architecture, a national firm with deep roots in Arkansas and a focus on higher education. “We certainly honor the heritage that building represented for ATU and the large step it was to move forward with such a largely expanded program to meet current student needs.”  

Utilizing student feedback in the planning process, designers were able to plan the facility to meet the current needs of those who use and work at the complex. The new amenities include:

• E-sports Lab
• Student Organization Offices
• Living Room Lounge
• Gaming Lounge
• Dining Area
• Cardio and Free Weights Gym
• Group Fitness Studio
• Multi-Purpose Courts
• Outdoor Recreation and Bike Repair
• Food Service
• Event Space
• Meeting Rooms
• First Aid Room

“Delivering the Ferguson Student Union has been a collaboration rooted in visionary planning, deep engagement with the ATU community, and exceptional coordination with our consulting and construction partners,” Lack said. “This building embodies Arkansas Tech’s commitment to student experience and campus engagement, and we are honored to see it complete and beginning its service to current and future generations of students.”

In addition to creating a vibrant space for students to gather throughout the day, the Ferguson Student Union will host intercollegiate Esports competitions, which have been surging in popularity over recent years. Other features include a flexible recreation space that could be used for various sports, such as pickleball and basketball.

“As the architect-of-record for the Ferguson Student Union, MBL Architecture wanted to honor the rich heritage of ATU and set it up for generations to come with a fully-integrated interior to exterior design of spaces,” Lack said. “That’s why we assembled the team with SmithGroup, with their beautiful knowledge of collegiate recreation centers and student union spaces, and Ground Control, Landscape Architecture, for their craft in creating modern outside spaces. With these key teammates, we were able to create a unified design which flows through the disparate functions of the Ferguson Student Union and out into the functional outdoor spaces of the new Mullens Plaza." 

“The Ferguson Student Union serves as a defining gateway to the university and a central hub for student life,” said Kalman Nagy, architect at SmithGroup. “We designed the building to create a welcoming sequence of spaces, beginning with a new pedestrian plaza meant to gather students from across campus and a terraced front porch overlooking the tree-lined landscape. Inside, the main entry acts as an open invitation to student union programming and a new campus recreation center, showcasing everything from esports to group fitness. This central ‘living room’ helps students quickly see how they can connect and find their place within campus life at ATU.”

A formal dedication ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, and will be open to ATU students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public, marking a celebratory milestone for Arkansas Tech University.

"Ferguson Student Union is unlike anything that has previously existed at Arkansas Tech University," said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president. "It is the result of many years of thoughtful planning and input from our students and our professional staff in student affairs. Ferguson Student Union, in combination with the Mullens Plaza and forthcoming improvements to the Hindsman Tower lawn, will enhance Arkansas Tech's reputation as having one of the most beautiful university campuses in the region. I am excited for everyone to see Ferguson Student Union on March 18 and for our students, faculty and staff to begin utilizing a facility that will make us a more connected and healthier campus.”