Plans for a new, improved Busch Memorial Center are under-way and the architectural drawings are almost finalized.

The new BMC will have meeting rooms for student organizations, more dining options and a bookstore in addition to a general place for the University community, especially students, to study, relax and just hang out.

Kathleen Brady, vice president of Facilities Management, stated that the progress thus far is good and the program is close to being finalized.

According to Mike Cappel, Student Government Association president, the program for the BMC has not been changed at all; the plans are 99 percent finalized with what will go inside the soon-to-be renovated building.

But as far as the location and area of the retail, meeting and office spaces, the committee is unsure of where things are going to be placed.

The SLUnion Advisory Committee meets bi-weekly. According to members of the committee the meetings are effective and they have been able to come up with sharper and better placements ideas for the retail, meeting and office spaces.

The architectural firm, McKkey Mitchell, Associates have come up with a number of designs for the renovations of BMC.

At this point the firm has drawn up five designs, but no final decision has been made.

According to Cappel the architectural firm has been enticing the committee with more and better ideas for the renovations than what was originally anticipated.

The SLUnion Advisory Committee plans on having a resolution about the renovations some time early next semester.

At that time the Student Government Association plans to hold a town hall meeting revealing the plans.

They are planning a full presentation of the design and plans of the BMC. This is being planned so that students, faculty and staff can voice their concerns and opinions about the renovations.

Once the University community has agreed to the designs, the construction can begin.

Cappel said the that new BMC aims to be a state-of-the-art student union to suit everyone’s needs: those of the students’, staff and

faculty’s.