For students looking to purchase or replace their UCard, waiting in a long line at the Union may seem inevitable.

To make the process easier, administration personnel for the Union plans to move the UCard office to the first floor near the Crimson Commons. A small convenience store will be built where the office is currently located.

Branden Dalley, associate director of operations and director of development for the Union, said the new office location will provide more space and stations to help students.

“It’ll be a seamless, better process,” Dalley said.

The space was previously University Print and Mail Services, and as of last week is currently undergoing demolition. Dalley said the print and mail station has already moved to the University Print and Mail Services at the V. Randall Turpin University Services Building.

Lauren Meisner, a freshman in exercise and sports science, works at the desk in the current UCard office and said she thinks the move is a good idea.

“People are always crowded here in the space and waiting out in the hallway,” Meisner said.

Meisner also said putting a small general store seemed like a good use of the space because it is a popular location and she looks forward to having it nearby.

Dalley said the store will be similar to Outtakes, the small walk-through store that is currently located in Orson Spencer Hall. It will provide food, snacks, drinks and other small items.

Dalley said he hopes that the “bulk of the noisy part of the construction” will be completed over winter break, but expects the project to wrap up in one to two months.

Dalley could not provide a cost projection number at this time, but said several different bids were considered.

[email protected]
@NikiVenugopal