Multicultural Center Invites Campus Community to Grand Opening of Its Newly Renovated Space

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Students meet in the expanded kitchen area of the newly renovated MC.

The Multicultural Center received a significant facelift and expansion and now takes up most of the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union. The former University Programs Theater, after decades of service as a movie theater and classroom, has been transformed into an open conversation lounge. The MC kitchen, a hub of activity and events, has been expanded and upgraded. Furniture has been updated, and the MC welcome desk is now near the central Union staircase to help with visibility and wayfinding.

The campus community is invited to The Multicultural Center's grand opening of their newly renovated space on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.

 "Our space is a hub that fosters a deep sense of belonging and allows us to provide support that is vital to student success," said Adrain Smith, director of the MC. "We are very happy to be back in the Arkansas Union."

During the renovation, which started in the spring semester of the 2023-24 school year, the MC staff set up temporarily in the Garland Avenue shops next to the University Bookstore. They continued to host signature events in and around the Arkansas Union and pop-up events at various locations across campus during the semester. They are excited to be back in the Union and in a beautiful renovated and expanded space.

Sophia Ordaz, cultural programming coordinator for the MC, said some highlights of the space's offerings include an expanded kitchen, and a space reserved for prayer, meditation, and other forms of quiet contemplation.

"One of the most notable improvements to the space is the expansion of the kitchen. Hundreds of students come to the MC on a daily basis to study, get connected to resources, and engage with campus community," Ordaz said. "Since the kitchen is the heart of the MC, it's expansion significantly helps us amplify the welcoming atmosphere we pride ourselves in embodying."

Rob Stagni, director of the Arkansas Union said he is excited about the completion of The MC renovation project.

"The Multicultural Center is a critical student-facing area, and the need for well-designed, student-focused spaces continues to increase with the larger campus population," Stagni, said. "I'm thrilled that the renovations in the MC are complete, and there is action in the space one again. We just have a few pieces of furniture that still need to be installed."

Ordaz said she is looking forward to having access to plentiful space to host multiformat programming.

"This semester, we are excited to be rolling out a programming calendar packed full of meaningful recognitions of Black History Month, Women's History Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The celebrations of these months will take place in many locations, including the MC Classroom and the Anne Kittrell Gallery, both of which are located within the renovated headquarters of the MC," Ordaz said. "We are also excited to open these programming spaces to the campus community. Registered student organizations, academic programs, and university departments will soon be able to reserve spaces in the MC."

2025 marks the 29th year since the MC formally opened on Feb. 27, 1996, and the 24th year of the MC being located on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union. Originally, the MC was located at 320 Arkansas Avenue for four years. The MC was relocated to the Arkansas Union in 2001 to drive more student traffic to the Union and create a centralized location for multicultural students to gather and find community.