The upcoming EMU Ballroom renovation starting March 19 will be giving the venue an upgrade, but has also been a small hindrance for some student groups who planned to use the venue during that time.
The $2 million project aims to make the ballroom more accessible for people with disabilities, update the aesthetic of the room, upgrade the lighting, heating, ventilation and increase its capacity.
The ballroom was not part of the initial renovation plan of the EMU, UO Director of Scheduling and Event Services Rick Haught said. The decision to renovate the room was made during late summer last year, after costs of the complete EMU construction was under budget.
“[The ballroom renovation] is a blessing for everyone on campus. It’s the largest single space for an event that is not an athletic facility,” Haught said.
EMU Board Chair Miles Sisk said there are other venues to hold events such as Mac Court, the Ford Alumni Center or Straub Hall, but they do not have the same capacity as the ballroom and are not as efficient for some events. However, Sisk said that the temporary closure is greater in the long run.
“I believe that it is a very small sacrifice to ensure the ballroom is up-to-date and accessible to all students,” Sisk said.
Haught says there were six events scheduled during the ballroom’s scheduled closure. Three groups have relocated to Mac Court, two to Straub Hall.
Gary Gao, president of the International Student Association, says the venues closure has tripled the cost of its annual International Night from $2,000 to $6,000 because it has been moved to Mac Court. Unlike the ballroom, Mac Court lacks a stage, sound system, and lighting system that would be adequate for the ISA’s event. As a result, the group must pay for additional services to set up the venue for the event.
“We probably have to go to the ASUO [Senate] to get more funds,” Gao said.
Mani Woodward, co-director of the Students of the Indian Subcontinent, said his group booked the venue one year in advance of its annual culture night but had to relocate it. As a result, SIS decided to split the event between the LLC Performance Hall and Straub Hall, where a performance from an Indian comedian from the Daily Show will be held. Woodward said holding the event outside from the ballroom has actually made holding the event cheaper because the Performance Hall is free and hopes to reimburse the funds the ASUO gave the group for the event.
Despite these inconveniences, Sisk said the ballroom should be completed by the beginning of fall term.
“I believe that it is a very small sacrifice to ensure the ballroom is up-to-date and accessible to all students … I think [the ballroom renovation is] a really important part of the project. It will have really positive effects to serve students in the future,” Sisk said.