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  • Faculty voices
  • View All Collections

Featured

Editor's picks

  • The Spartans behind your favorite Michigan golf courses

    July 22, 2026

    The Spartans behind your favorite Michigan golf courses

  • MSU in the 1990s: 10 Spartan milestones

    July 14, 2026

    MSU in the 1990s: 10 Spartan milestones

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MSU Administration and Governance

June 11, 2025

Celebrating the MSU Union's 100th birthday

The MSU Union officially opened on the Michigan Agricultural College campus June 12, 1925. A century later, the Union has gone through a university name change, seen its campus go from 351 students to 52,089 and kept up with the changing times to provide a welcoming space for the MSU community. Happy 100th birthday, MSU Union!

All images belong to MSU Archives and Historical Collections unless otherwise noted. This article has been updated and was originally published in 2021.

Two students sitting at a table in the MSU Union Lounge
Photo of people digging. Writing reads 'M.A.C Men work on Union Building Nov. 1923'
Image of the MSU Union in winter 1929
An artist on scaffolding carving on the facade of the MSU Union building
Aerial view of the MSU Union in 1949
MSU Union under construction
Exterior shot of the MSU Union.
Two students sitting at a table in the MSU Union Lounge
Photo of people digging. Writing reads 'M.A.C Men work on Union Building Nov. 1923'
Following the events of Feb. 13, 2023, the former food court area of the MSU Union was closed and renovated into a space that allows individuals to gather, engage and socialize. The project, led by MSU alumna and interior designer Ashley Latinen, emphasized safety, trust and empowerment, transforming the former food court into a central hub that promotes healing and connection. Photo by Derrick L. Turner, 2024.
Ground broke on the construction of the MSU Union in 1923. The initial construction was funded entirely by students and alumni, starting in 1915 and paused by World War I. When construction was planned to resume, Robert J. McCarthy, secretary of the Alumni Association, organized a competitive “Excavation Week” where students, faculty and volunteers dug the Union's foundation to help raise the last of the necessary funds.
The MSU Union, then called the Memorial Union, on a snowy day in 1929.
In the 1940s, the MSU Union was renovated and expanded, adding a new south wing to the building. In 1948, the façade was embellished with sculpture depicting scholars of various fields.
An aerial view of the MSU Union taken in 1949.
The Union underwent another renovation in 2012 that transformed the inside spaces. Photo by Derrick L. Turner
A century after its construction, the MSU Union is still standing strong. It serves as a home to a wealth of student resources and community events, and acts as a hub and gateway to campus for students, faculty and visitors alike. Photo by Nick Schrader, 2025.
Following the events of Feb. 13, 2023, the former food court area of the MSU Union was closed and renovated into a space that allows individuals to gather, engage and socialize. The project, led by MSU alumna and interior designer Ashley Latinen, emphasized safety, trust and empowerment, transforming the former food court into a central hub that promotes healing and connection. Photo by Derrick L. Turner, 2024.
Ground broke on the construction of the MSU Union in 1923. The initial construction was funded entirely by students and alumni, starting in 1915 and paused by World War I. When construction was planned to resume, Robert J. McCarthy, secretary of the Alumni Association, organized a competitive “Excavation Week” where students, faculty and volunteers dug the Union's foundation to help raise the last of the necessary funds.

01 / 07

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