Coffman Memorial Union is a student union on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota, United States. Located immediately south of Washington Avenue, it anchors the south end of Northrop Mall and overlooks the Mississippi River.HistoryCoffman Memorial Union opened in 1940 and was designed by Clarence H. Johnston, Jr. It is named for Lotus Coffman, President of the University of Minnesota between 1920 and 1938. Since then, the building has undergone several subsequent renovations. Some of these renovations have been widely criticized, especially in the 1970s when the exterior was significantly altered. The most recent, and most extensive, renovation closed the building between 1999 and 2003. This renovation restored the exterior, thoroughly renovated the interior, and greatly expanded the basement floors, which now include the main University of Minnesota Bookstore, food vendors, offices, lounges, and the glass "Cube" which sits adjacent to Washington Avenue.ServicesThe building hosts a variety of services including food & dining, the University of Minnesota Bookstore, printing services, administration services, IT Student Lab, and student group services. A majority of the student groups can be found on the second floor, while the lower level offers access to the bookstore dining & printing services as well as access to lower level parking.OrganizationsThe building is home to the Student Unions and Activities office, Minnesota Student Association (the undergraduate student government organization), the Minnesota Programs and Activities Council (MPAC), the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (the graduate student government organization), and the campus's main bookstore.
