The Texas A&M – Commerce alumni are closer than ever to getting their own building.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Derryle Peace, director of alumni relations, said. “This is the first alumni facility on the campus and we’ve put so much effort into building a center that alumni, young and old, can be proud of.”
The center will be located immediately west of Lyday Heritage House Gardens and cover 6,504-square feet. It will provide ample space to display A&M-C memorabilia and photographs.
“The offices we have now in the MSC [Memorial Student Center] only span about 1,600-square feet, so obviously the new alumni center will allow us some flexibility,” Peace said. “And we’re excited about that.”
The new alumni center will have conference rooms for meetings, a rotunda with a display case and a veranda that will open up to the Heritage House lawn for events and special ceremonies.
“This center will be a focal point of activity,” Peace said. “Students will have space to host receptions, alumni will see memorabilia and the community will see that the alumni have made a worthwhile investment in the university.”
The plans for the new center are awaiting approval from the Texas A&M System Board of Regents.
“They will review the plans during their meetings on Sept. 28 and 29, and once approved, we’ll set a date for a groundbreaking ceremony, and then construction will begin. I’m glad we’re at a point where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Peace said.
Once approved by the board of regents, We Build Inc. of Paris, Texas, says the center should take approximately six months to complete.