UW students vote to fund HUB overhaul

University of Washington students agreed Friday to spend $128 million on a complete overhaul of their main campus gathering spot, the Husky Union Building.

The vote by a seven-member student committee represented the culmination of four years of discussion and planning. Also included was an additional $26 million to renovate a health clinic and a cultural center. UW regents, who backed the initial stages of the project, are expected to sign off on the renovations at a July meeting.

Students will pay most of the costs themselves. In an advisory measure, the student committee Friday voted in favor of imposing an annual fee of $274 per student.

That means most students would pay an extra $1,100 or so over the course of a four-year degree. If approved by regents, the fee would be implemented in stages in 2011 and 2012 and would remain in effect for 30 years, to pay off a bond issue. The student money would be supplemented by $20 million the UW plans to kick in.

Opened in the 1940s, the student gathering spot known affectionately by its acronym, the HUB, has been showing its age.

"The HUB has serious flow problems," said Matt York, a student who chairs the Services & Activities Fee Committee. "It's a very poor use of space and a poorly designed building. You can't find your way around. Even students don't know there's a second and third floor — they've never seen them."

York said consideration was given to demolishing the HUB, but it was determined that it would be cheaper to strip it to its bones.

The new-look HUB would feature an open plan with increased natural lighting, central meeting areas and an auditorium for concerts, comedy shows and films. It would increase the visibility and accessibility of the 700 student organizations that use the building.

Lincoln Johnson, the director of the HUB, said he hopes to begin moving out in fall 2010. Construction is expected to take 27 months, he said, and the new-look HUB should reopen in January 2013.

Exactly where all those students will gather during the renovation hasn't been finalized, Johnson said.

Anttimo Bennett, the student-body president, said he's excited about the project, even though he will be long gone from the UW by the time it's finished.

"This is a dream that students have had for years," he said. "For it to go through means the dream is finally realized."

Despite the additional cost to students at a time when tuition is skyrocketing, not one person objected to the plan at Friday's meeting. York said there'd been overwhelming support for the plan each step of the way. He said he hopes that by the time the fee takes effect, the economy will be strong again.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com