University of Arkansas System President Don Bobbitt and Board of Trustees Chair Mike Akin joined Chancellor Joel E. Anderson Friday to formally open UALR’s newest campus improvement – the four-story Student Services Center.

The 48,529-square-foot glass and brick building provides a new home for most offices frequented by current and prospective students.

The center is a one-stop site for students to learn about UALR, apply, register, meet with academic advisers, find financial aid, enroll, and – finally – apply for graduation.

“I remember hearing about the planning of this building, and now it’s here and already impacting students in so many ways,” said Rizan Mohsin, president of the UALR Student Government Association.

Mohsin joined Chancellor Anderson to cut the ribbon during the ceremony while her fellow students, faculty, staff, and visitors applauded the new structure.

The building – part of UALR’s bond program that is transforming the campus – also houses offices for the Chancellor and top administrators. It includes an 188-seat auditorium, and a skybridge connects the new building to the Donaghey Student Center.

“I have attended several ribbon cutting ceremonies at UALR recently,” Bobbitt said. “You can mark the progress sometimes by the number of (construction) cranes you see on campus.”

Among others, Anderson gave credit for the university’s recent capital improvements to members of the Board of Visitors, who endorsed a vibrant building bond program to take advantage of historically low interest rates.

“It is amazing what UALR is accomplishing in the capital city,” said Akin.

The university has applied for Gold Certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – a certification standard developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

UALR has three other LEED Gold buildings on campus – the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology building, the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences, and the newest student residence building, West Hall.

The $13.5 million building was designed by architects Polk Stanley Wilcox and TME, Inc. and DCI Engineers. CDI Contractors, LLC was the general contracting firm.