COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A University of Missouri-commissioned report says the school's student union is in need of renovations after parts of the building were found to be in poor condition.
The Columbia Missourian reports a $35,000 study conducted by a consulting firm recommended the Memorial Union North undergo renovations that would include fixing and expanding the building.
Memorial Union North's renovation would include redoing the building's second floor and the addition of a third floor that would hold a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. Renovation would likely be funded by Mizzou Store sales and reservation fees paid by off-campus organizations to use the center, according to Student and Auxiliary Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese.
According to the report, the student union is in such poor condition partly because the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system are five decades old.
"The second floor of Memorial Union must be renovated because of its deferred maintenance, lack of aesthetic appeal and functional obsolescence of its meeting space," the report said.
The report also says a new Welcome Center could be ideal for donor and football recruiting events, but its construction shouldn't be a priority for the school. According to the report, the Welcome Center would not be as "conducive to fulfilling the academic mission of the university," as it could be partly because of its location on the outskirts of campus.