Early history The Hub was built in 1949-1950 after being designed by Andrew Ferendino of the
Miami architectural firm of
Russell Pancoast and Associates, as directed by
Florida Board of Control architect
Guy Fulton and UF's consulting architect Jefferson Hamilton. It was UF's first departure from the
Collegiate Gothic architectural style that had prevailed on the campus since the first buildings,
Buckman and
Thomas, were built in 1905. During its design phase, the Hub was briefly known as the
Student Services Center. Around the time of its grand opening, it was renamed
the Hub by students after a campus-wide contest.
Change in services The Hub originally housed the campus
bookstore,
post office,
barber shop,
soda fountain, and
movie theater. Prior to moving to the
J. Wayne Reitz Union in 2003, the university's bookstore and ID card services were both located at the Hub. A small
food court was set up on the first floor and the "Technology Hub" selling computer accessories and software was on the second floor.
Renovations In 2005, the Hub began undergoing a $10.8 million
renovation and was later reopened in April 2007. The renovation added various
computer and
videoconferencing equipment, a open
wireless Internet area, a
Starbucks, a
Chick-fil-A, and group and individual study rooms. The Office of Academic Technology and the International Center (
study abroad) moved to the Hub following the renovation. ==See also==