The Diaz Compean Student Union (officially the Ramiro Compean and Lupe Diaz Compean Student Union) is a student center along the Paseo de César Chávez on the campus of San Jose State University, in San Jose, California. Completed in 1969 and renovated in 2016, it functions as an event center, a place for student engagement, and a place intended to improve student experience.
| Diaz Compean Student Union | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Student Center |
| Location | Paseo de César Chávez, San Jose, California |
| Year(s) built | 1963-1969 |
| Opened | October 13, 1969 |
| Renovated | 2010-2016 |
| Owner | San Jose State University |
| Governing body | Associated Student of San Jose State University |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Floor area | 246,000 sq ft |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Ernest J. Kump and Associates |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Perkins&Will |
| Website | |
| https://www.sjsu.edu/studentunion/student-union/index.php | |
History and architecture
editTalks of constructing a union building at San Jose State University began in 1927, without much materializing until November 1963 when the Associated Students of San Jose State University drafted a ballot measure to create a proper student union for the school.[1] The measure created a $5.5 million-dollar bond (equivalent to $55,000,000 in 2023), which would be paid back through an annual student fee of $20. The measure drew in a record 9,134 ballots, with support of the student union surpassing the required 2/3rds majority needed. In October 1964, the architectural contract for the building was awarded to Ernst J. Kump and Associates, which they completed in 1969.[2][3] The union was a 144,000 square foot structure and was built in a brutalist style, with heavy use of exposed concrete and brick.[4]
To celebrate the opening of the Student Union, a Grateful Dead concert was held in the ballroom on October 31, 1969.[5]
Room names
editAfter construction was completed in 1969, students got to choose the names of the meeting rooms of the student union, and opted to name them after respect for the Native American and Hispanic heritage of much of their student body. Initial room names included Umunhum, Guadalupe, Pacheco, Loma Prieta, Costanoan, Diablo, Almaden, Laguna Seca, Pacifica, Madrone, Manzanita, and Verde.[1] The only room that was not named in this style was the ballroom, which was named the Ron Barrett Ballroom, after a long-time director of the union.[1] After the Student Union was renovated in 2016, the meeting rooms and ballroom lost their names, instead being referred to as numbers (Meeting Rooms 1A, 1B, 2A, etc.).[6]
Renovation
editIn 2010, the university launched an $89 million renovation (equivalent to $124,000,000 in 2023) of the Student Union, finding that the space available no longer sufficiently met the needs of students due to increasing enrollment. Architectural firm Perkins&Will was chosen to complete the project, and added one wing to either end of the building which increased the floor area by an extra 104,000 square feet. In order to contrast the original building's brutalist style, the wings were built in a modernist style, with a heavy use of glass.[4][7] After the construction, the building was LEED-Gold certified.[8]
In 2016, ahead of the opening of the new wings, it was announced that philanthropist Lupe Diaz Compean donated $15 million to establish scholarships and pay for operation of the building.[9][10] For this, the university renamed the building to the Ramiro Compean and Lupe Diaz Compean Student Union.[11]
Activities and event spaces
editThe Diaz Compean Student Union houses a variety of spaces to hold activities and events.
The basement-level floor holds a bowling and billiards center, a cafe, and a 312-person capacity theater.[12][6]
The ground-level floor holds the Union Square food court, the Spartan Bookstore, and the welcome center. It also houses various offices for student resources, including those for Veterans, Black, Chicanx, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ students.[6]
The upper-level floor holds 10 meeting rooms, administrative offices, a print-shop, and the 756-person capacity ballroom.[13][6]
Gallery
edit-
The Ron Barrett Ballroom, which was removed after renovations in 2016. -
The current ballroom. -
The Student Union as it was undergoing renovations in 2016, the original exterior of the building can be seen in the back right. -
The interior atrium, which spans all three floors. -
The Union Square food court.
References
edit- ^ a b c Walsh, James P. (2003). San José State University: An Interpretive History, 1950-2000. San José State University. pp. 125–126. ISBN 0974147907.
- ^ Blow, Bill (1964-10-14). "Architects Sign for Union". Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications). 52 (16): 1.
- ^ Crouch, Ed (1969-10-13). "A Long Time Coming, But the New Union Opens Today". Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications). 57 (14): 4–5.
- ^ a b Saunders, Nicole Sheree (September 19, 2014). "Public Use/Civic Project Finalist: SJSU Student Union Expansion". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Corry342 (2022-01-28). "Lost Live Dead: Halloween Weekend 1969: Loma Prieta Room, San Jose State and Family Dog on The Great Highway (Oct 31-Nov 2 '69) [FDGH V]". Lost Live Dead. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d "Interactive Building Directory | Student Union, Inc. at SJSU". www.sjsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Allan, Spencer. "San Jose State University Student Union – Perkins&Will". perkinswill.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "San Jose State - Student Union | U.S. Green Building Council". www.usgbc.org. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Early, David E. (2016-02-29). "SJSU gets $15 million gift from donor who never attended college". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Candid. "San Jose State University Receives Endowment Gifts of $15 Million". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Trustees of the California State University (March 9, 2016). "Resolutions" (PDF).
- ^ "Theater | Student Union, Inc. at SJSU". www.sjsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Ballroom | Student Union, Inc. at SJSU". www.sjsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-10.