UBC Student Nest: 28 things to do at the new Student Union Building (PHOTOS)
“This place is utterly insane… I didn’t think it would be so big inside, and the level of thought and detail put into designing this place really shows,” said second year Arts student Dakota Whitney upon walking into the UBC Student Nest, the new AMS Student Union Building (SUB).
‘Awestruck’ is probably an appropriate word to describe students who are checking out the new facilities for the first time on this first day of school.
The $107-million Student Nest, 250,000-square-foot building had a soft opening in early-June, but at the time only roughly half of the food options and businesses were open and crews were still working on finishing the interior.
This is the largest building to be built on campus since the 2008 completion of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, which quickly became the new hub for academic and social life on campus. The new building is roughly 50 per cent larger than the old SUB, which will be repurposed for other academic and student life uses.
The old SUB built in the 1960s has outgrown the campus population’s rapidly growing needs. Entering into the new school year, UBC now has nearly 61,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 17,500 faculty and staff.
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“It’s a huge leap from the old AMS building next door,” said third year Science student Matthew Jing. “I’m particularly impressed with the new stores and food options that are in here [and] the additional places to study and just chill, we really needed that on campus.”
The building’s spaces revolve around a large, airy multi-storey atrium, with a bird’s nest-shaped space and lounge suspended high over the shopping mall-like lower floor concourse. Extensive wood is used throughout the building, coupled with green designs and technology that have allowed it to achieve a LEED Platinum standard – the highest green building rating in North America.
There are eight AMS-operated eateries, a new Pit Pub and 11 privately operated retailers, in addition to all the other student and activity spaces scattered across the building.
Here is a rundown of what you can find and do inside the new Student Union Building:
Relax on the bean bags and couches on the ‘Bird Nest’ in the atrium.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There’s a massive publicly accessible rooftop space…
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
… where you can find a massive community garden…
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
… managed by a brand new student club.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There’s The Perch, a full-service restaurant on the top floor…
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
… with a patio overlooking the Nest’s outdoor plaza and Main Mall. It’s easily one of the best patios in the city.
Sit on these giant steps, a part of the new knoll students fought for.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Sit on the grassy knoll, and peer down into these skylight windows…
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
… into the dance floor of the new and improved Pit Pub!
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Grab a drink and watch a sports game from this massive 55-foot-long high definition wall screen…
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
… which turns into a dynamic nightclub backdrop at night.
Image: AMS Student Society
All seating booths in the new Pit Pub come with a TV!
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Go indoor rock climbing on the three-storey ‘Aviary’ rock climbing wall!
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
It’s just $10 for a day pass and $25 for a one-semester pass, plus $5 for equipment rental per session. The first rental is free.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There are huge dance studio spaces! Take part in free dance and yoga sessions.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Study, eat or ‘people watch’ from one of many seating areas on the main floor.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Favourite eateries from the old SUB are back, although some now have different names and branding.
The Pit Pub’s Burger Bar is now Flip Side.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
The Moon is now the Grand Noodle Emporium.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
The Honour Roll Sushi is now Peko Peko Sushi.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Blue Chip Cookies is now <Uppercase>.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
A neon sign provides a nod to its origins.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
But Pie R Squared Pizza has retained its name.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
And so has The Delly.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There are a number of new food options and services.
Liquid Nutrition offers high-quality smoothies, health food items, supplements and vitamins.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
The Palate offers gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, plus made-to-order paninis, sandwiches and wraps.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There’s a presence from Granville Island’s famous Stock Market: the Soup Market.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Opening soon: Qoola, a frozen yogurt bar that serves organic, GMO-free yogurt.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Coming soon: the UBC Nest will have its own grocery store.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
There’s even a Wirelesswave cell phone shop.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Drop by the new Student Council chambers and get involved with student politics.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Get your studying on at one of these studying areas.
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
Image: Kenneth Chan / Vancity Buzz
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