January 19, 2004

UNION COLLEGE OPENS FACILITY, WELCOMES COMMUNITY

On Jan. 14, Union College celebrated opening day of the Ortner Center, a multi-purpose facility that includes new meeting space and dining options available to the Lincoln community. Located at 3800 South 48^th Street at the center of the Union College campus, the $5.8 million Ortner Center project was a rebuild and expansion of an existing men’s residence hall and food service facility.

The Ortner Center includes the following services for the campus and community:

• Lang Conference and Guest Center is comprised of two small and two large meeting rooms, a reception space and 14 guest rooms including two suites.
• Union Market features a variety of vegetarian cuisine options served in contemporary market-style setting. A great option for a healthy lunch in Southeast Lincoln, the public is welcome to visit Union Market anytime during weekday service hours Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Union’s Dining Services also accommodates on-site catering.
• Wheatberries bakery customers can call ahead to place orders or stop by to see what was baked fresh that day. Bakery hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Presidential Dining Room seats 72 and can be reserved for special events or meetings.
• Campus information center open 24 hours a day.
• McClelland Art Gallery, named after nationally recognized Union College art professor Jim McClelland, features student, faculty and guest exhibits.
• Culver Hall, a men’s residence, is one of three residence facilities on campus.

Project Details

Started in June 2002, the Ortner Center construction project included a new 13,137-square foot entrance and terrace area, 21,363-square-foot food service area and 8,160-square-foot conference center for a total of 42,660 square feet.

A $1.3 million gift from the Alvin Ortner Trust helped create the vision for the project. Other leadership donors include: Union Bank, Lincoln, Neb.; Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Overland Park, Kan.; Adventist Health Rocky Mountain Region, Colo.; Mid-America Seventh-day Adventist Headquarters, Lincoln, Neb.; Jerome and Ramona Lang, Lincoln, Neb.; and Jessica Saxton and Saxton Inc., St. Joseph, Mo.

Architect: Davis Design; Contractor: Brester Construction

Open House Events

Although the Ortner Center is already open to the public, a special invitation is extended to the community for tours of the facility during open house events scheduled for April 7 and 8, 4-6 p.m.

Reservations

To learn more about reserving meeting space, guest rooms or catering call 402.486.2545.