Student Union Building

Building Name: Student Union Building

Other Names: the “SUB”

Civic Address: 21 Pacey Dr.

Sod Turning: 6 October 1965 by Ken Carty, President UNB SRC; John J. Kennedy, President STU SRC; and Clarence LaFreniers, President Teachers' College SRC.

Cornerstone Laying: 9 October 1968

Opened for Use: 29 January 1969

Architect: Larson and Larson (original building); Goguen and Co. (atrium addition in 1999)

Named for: The union of UNB, STU, and Teachers College students to initiate construction of a common student area for social, recreational and cultural activities.

Renovations/changes/additions: May 1981 featured a renovation of the cafeteria. In 1983 the Blue Lounge was renovated through the Third Century Fund. In Fall 1999 construction began on a SUB expansion, resulting in the completion of the Atrium addition in August 2000.

Renovations completed in 2024 saw the removal of the convenience store and an expansion and refurbishment of the Blue Room. The University Bookstore and Campus Pharmacy moved to the SUB. A quiet space off the entrance was added for wellness and counselling services, and a food service area with smart vending machines were added. Upon entering the front door, it is now possible to see all the way through the building and out the windows facing downtown and the Wolastoq river. An outdoor recreation area was added with Adirondack chairs and new lighting, and games such as frisbee, cornhole, and croquet can be signed out by students to play with. The renovations aim to increase opportunities for student social engagement and to make the Student Union Building a social hub.

Notes: The Student Union Building was a student-funded project, with money raised from UNB students through their Student Union fees beginning in 1963, and eventually including St. Thomas University and Teacher's College students as well.

The SUB has housed the UNB Student Union, the St. Thomas Student Union, the College Hill Social Club, the “S-Club”, the Cellar Pub, College Hill Student Radio (CHSR), The Brunswickan, a cafeteria including Tim Hortons, SUB Towne clothing store, the SUB Shoppe convenience store, the University Women’s Centre, the Blue Lounge, the SUB Styles hair salon, Flannery Jewelers, and The 203 Centre for for Gender and Sexual Diversity.

Source(s):

• UA Case 123; Section 3, Box 2; Student Union Building.
• UA Case 173; Section 1, Box 2; Student Union.
• UNB Scrapbooks (UA RG 100); October - December 1968.
• UNB News "Rooms with a view: UNB spaces reimagined for student success" by Tim Jacques; Sep 10, 2024