Coffman Memorial Union

University of Minnesota Coffman Memorial Union
Coffman Memorial Union as seen from Northrop Mall across Washington Avenue
General information
Type	Student union
Location	Minneapolis, United States
Construction started	1939
Opened	1940
Inaugurated	October 25, 1940
Renovated	1974-1976, 1999-2003
Website
http://www.coffman.umn.edu

Coffman Memorial Union (CMU) is the student union (student center) on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota, United States. It anchors the south side of Northrop Mall, on the south side of Washington Avenue, overlooking the Mississippi River. It is named for Lotus Coffman, a University of Minnesota President between 1920 and 1938.

It opened in 1940 and has undergone renovations on several occasions, especially the 1970s work which was widely criticized for altering the exterior. The most recent, and most significant, renovation closed the building between 1999 and 2003. This renovation restored the exterior, thoroughly renovated the interior and greatly expanded the basement floors: which now include the main University of Minnesota Bookstore as well as several new stores, offices and lounges, including the glass "Cube" which sits off Washington Ave.

CMU is operated quasi-independently from the University of Minnesota, by the Student Unions & Activities (SUA) Board of Governors. SUA also has a facility on the Saint Paul campus, the St. Paul Student Center, and on the Minneapolis West Bank, the West Bank Skyway. CMU is home to the undergraduate student government - the Minnesota Student Association, MPAC (Minnesota Programs and Activities Council), which is responsible for planning Homecoming and Spring Jam™ activities, along with many other events held on campus, and the graduate student government Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, and the campus bookstore.

Photo Gallery

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  The south side of the union from the Mississippi River north bank

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  CMU at night, with the "Cube" in foreground

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  Metro Transit buses at Washington Avenue bus stop on north side of Coffman Memorial Union. Hasselmo Hall and Moos Health Science Tower in background. Union on right.

External links

• Student Unions & Activities web site
• Coffman Union web site