Coffman Memorial Union (commonly known as Coffman Union or simply Coffman) is a

student union A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social ...

on the East Bank campus of the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

. Situated near the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...

, Coffman anchors the south end of

Northrop Mall The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. T ...

, a grassy area at the center of campus that is bordered by the university's physics, mathematics, chemistry, and administration buildings, plus

Walter Library Walter Library is an academic library located on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It currently houses the College of Science and Engineering Library and Dean's Office, the Digital Technology and Digita ...

Northrop Auditorium Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium (commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop) is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the university's second presi ...

sits at the north end of the mall, opposite Coffman across

Washington Avenue Washington Avenue may refer to: United States * Washington Avenue (Miami Beach) in Miami Beach, Florida * Washington Avenue (Milford Mill, Maryland) * Washington Avenue (Towson, Maryland) * Washington Avenue (Minneapolis), a major street in Minne ...

History

Coffman Memorial Union was built between 1939 and 1940 as a new "center of social life" for the

campus, a role that had previously been filled by Shevlin Hall and Nicholson Hall in the Old Campus Historic District. Designed by architect Clarence H. Johnston Jr, the new building opened in September 1940 and was dedicated on October 25th of the same year. It was named in memory of Lotus D. Coffman, President of the University of Minnesota between 1920 and 1938. Since opening, the building has undergone two significant renovations. The first major renovation, completed in 1976, was widely criticized for its adverse effect on the building's exterior. However, this was largely corrected between 1999 and 2003 during the second major renovation. The second renovation restored the exterior, thoroughly renovated the interior, and greatly expanded the basement floors to include the main University of Minnesota Bookstore, food vendors, offices, lounges, and the glass "Cube" which sits adjacent to Washington Avenue. The project required the building to be closed for a period of three years. In 2019, after 16 months of study, a University task force recommended removing Lotus Coffman's name from the building due to his racist and anti-Semitic policie

Services and amenities

The building hosts a variety of services including the University of Minnesota Bookstore, Minnesota Marketplace Food Court, US Postal Service, IT Student Lab, administration services, and student group services. While the main lounge and

theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...

are located on the main floor of the building, the lower level offers access to the bookstore, Great Hall, and several dining options."Coffman Memorial Union Campus Maps"
Retrieved on 24 April 2016. The basement features the Whole Music Club and an entertainment center called Goldy's Gameroom (which also features a

bowling alley A bowling alley (also known as a bowling center, bowling lounge, bowling arena, or historically bowling club) is a facility where the sport of bowling is played. It can be a dedicated facility or part of another, such as a clubhouse or dwelling ...

). The building's upper floors are largely reserved for student and administration use, with student groups occupying much of the second floor. The fourth floor is home to the Campus Club, a member-based dining and event venue primarily used by faculty and alumni.

Organizations

The building is home to the University of Minnesota Student Unions & Activities office, the

Minnesota Student Association The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

(the

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...

student government organization), and the

Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Graduate may refer to: Education * The subject of a graduation, i.e. someone awarded an academic degree ** Alumnus, a former student who has either attended or graduated from an institution * High school graduate, someone who has completed high ...

(the

graduate student Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. The organization and s ...

government organization). Other student groups located within the building include: *Al-Madinah Cultural Center *American Indian Student Cultural Center *Asian-American Student Union *Black Student Union *Disabled Student Cultural Center *La Raza Student Cultural Center *Minnesota International Student Association *Queer Student Cultural Center

Gallery

File:Coffman Memorial Union south side.jpg, South facade as viewed from Yudof Plaza File:Washington Avenue and Coffman Union.jpg, CMU at night, with the "Cube" in foreground

References

External links

Student Unions & Activities

Coffman Union
{{University of Minnesota campus Student activity centers in the United States University of Minnesota School buildings completed in 1940