More than 1,000 students, faculty members and University staff are expected to attend the grand opening ceremony for the new Joe Crowley Student Union Thursday, Nov. 15. The new union is expected to transform campus life by providing exceptional spaces for formal and informal learning. It is the cornerstone of the University's efforts to create a 'sticky' campus: a place that puts the ‘life' in campus life.

A parade of letters from the Jot Travis Student Union to the Joe Crowley Student Union will begin at 11:30 a.m. The University cheerleading team, drum line and Alphie will participate.

The welcoming ceremony begins at noon. Remarks will be made by Shannon Ellis, vice president for student services; Graduate Student Association (GSA) President Rebecca Bevans; University President, Milton Glick; Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) President Sarah Ragsdale; and former University President Joe Crowley.

Sol Jibe, a local music act, is scheduled to play a free concert on the outdoor performance plaza at 12:45 p.m. A free, lunchtime, barbeque will be offered to attendees. The new union will open and attendees will be able to take self-guided tours of the facility.

The Joe Crowley Student Union will be home to one of the largest Starbucks Coffee shops west of the Mississippi River; Tahoe Creamery; Port of Subs; Baja Fresh; Keva Juice; JC&C Wireless; Kaplan Test Preparation Center; Silver State Schools Credit Union; ASUN Bookstore, Clinique make-up counter; Convenience Store; 220 seat surround-sound movie theater; sports grill; optimized programming spaces and more.

The new union is an environmentally sustainable building with several 'green' aspects. Green features include: day lighting system to reduce artificial light use to minimize energy consumption; very low water use fixtures in bathrooms, reducing potable water use; high efficiency, fritted window glass; on-site cistern containing water from the building's cooling towers to be used for irrigation; and pervious pavers to help capture and infiltrate storm water back into the ground, eliminating one storm drain and proportionally reducing the water flow to the storm water system.

The building is four stories tall and accounts for approximately 167,000 square feet of space.

Students chose to name the Joe Crowley Student Union in honor of Joe Crowley who served for 23 years as President of the University of Nevada, Reno. The building is primarily funded by self-assessed student fees as approved by the Nevada Board of Regents.