On Friday, Oct. 24 years of construction and planning will culminate in the opening of the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center to the public and UW students alike at 11 a.m.
None of the cost of the new building came out of UW students’ pockets.
The entire Gateway Center, located at the corner of 22nd and Grand Avenue, was privately funded. The total cost of the building was $35 million dollars. The most generous donation was from Marian H. Rochelle, who the building is named after.
“The University of Wyoming finally has a front door,” President/CEO of the UW Foundation Ben Blalock said. “This building shows that we do not take a back seat to anyone in the country. There is not a building like this out there.”
The building will house the UW Alumni Association, the UW Office of Admissions, Advising and Career Services and the UW Foundation. Prior to the Gateway Center, many of these departments called Knight Hall home. The Gateway Center features many digital displays that visitors, alumni and students can interact and learn more about the history of Wyoming.
One of the main rooms is the Legacy Room and this room tells the history of the University of Wyoming. A video story of the university broken up by each decade that the university has been in existence encourages visitors to look back. From the building of Old Main to the 1943 National Champion Mens Basketball team to today, each decade has a unique story that you can delve into while visiting the Legacy Room.
“You can do a deep dive into the University of Wyoming decade by decade,” Blalock said. “This will be one of the most special places for our alumni. All of these stories are here to be told.”
Across the hall from the Legacy Room is the President’s Room. This room resembles a lounge with a fireplace and a few couches that people can sit on and enjoy a meal or have a conversation. The inviting atmosphere of the room may be used for more than entertaining alumni, though.
“I know coach Bohl, coach Shyatt and coach Legerski are very excited to use this room as a recruiting tool,” Blalock said.
Staying on the first floor one will find a room next to the lobby filled with school annuals and a fireplace. This room is again geared towards the alumni, as they can look for the school annual from their time at the university.
The building stands three stories and the second and third floors feature many conference and meeting rooms with a more student and faculty focus. Everything for the visitors can be found on the first floor.
Outside the building one will find a 16-foot-tall statue depiction of Steamboat, called “Wyoming Cowboy.” “Wyoming Cowboy,” along with the rest of the exterior of the building is lined with lights. These lights can change to a multitude of colors, but after a Cowboy victory it will only shine one.
“We wanted to design a building at the University of Wyoming that, when the Cowboys win a football, men’s basketball or women’s basketball game, this building will turn gold,” Blalock said. “It signifies victory and celebration.”
The Gateway Center will also be able to hold large gatherings such as fundraisers, dinners, pep rallies and much more.
“Being a part of this project 2 1/2 years ago and seeing what it has become is very rewarding,” Project Manager Preston Nelson said.
