The Bailey Alumni and Friends Center at UALR will postpone its grand reopening, which had been set for Friday, Aug. 1. A water pipe burst in the building, flooding several offices and the main banquet hall but not damaging any of the historical pieces on display.

The extent of the damage to the flooded areas and infrastructure is not yet known. The reopening of the center could be delayed up to a month or more, according to Christian O’Neal, associate vice chancellor of alumni and development at UALR.

PREVIOUSLY: After a summer filled with renovations and updates that include new carpeting, air conditioning, and workstations to accommodate the entire alumni and development staff, the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center at UALR will officially reopen Friday, Aug. 1. New additions to the center include the 1949 Junior College Rose Bowl trophy won by the Little Rock Junior College football team.

The display cases have been updated, with different sections devoted to the three eras of UALR history — Little Rock Junior College, Little Rock University, and UALR. Also on display is “Some Fine Horses,” a painting by Donald Montileaux from the J. W. Wiggins Native American art collection of the UALR Sequoyah National Research Center. Artwork by UALR alumni Dan Thornhill and Emily Moll Wood is also on display.

Due to loss of storage space in Engel Hall, the center is scaling back on the size of events offered in the past.

The Bailey Center will offer maximum seating of 60 in Engel Alumni Hall using round tables only. The patio is also available with new cushions and umbrellas for the patio furniture. The capacity in Nelson Boardroom remains the same, with seating for 22 around the table.

Constructed as one of the premier alumni centers in the country, the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center provides a remarkable venue for gatherings. It has been been host to many board meetings, community events and company retreats since opening in 2001.