On August 29, 2019 BE&K Building Group and the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) celebrated the official grand opening of the 75,000 sf University Commons building in Victoria, Texas. More than 200 UHV faculty, staff, students, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the new student center with a ribbon-cutting and open house. Designed by Gensler, the University Commons will combine UHV’s first student center with a modern library embedded with today’s latest technologies.
The first floor includes a food court, coffee bar, Barnes & Noble bookstore, video game area, multi-purpose room, and study spaces. The second floor is a combination of a student center and learning commons (modern library).
The student center houses offices for UHV Student Life & Services, the Student Government Association, and other student organizations. The learning commons includes the latest technologies, a makerspace for students to create materials, collaborative areas, and the UHV Student Success Center that provides tutoring and workshops for students. The third floor contains additional book resources, a deck with outdoor seating, and meeting rooms.
UHV President Bob Glenn said having a student center is significant for the university and compared the building to a home’s den or living room; an important place where a family gathers to relax and connect.