Media Credit: Bryant Haertlein A construction worker pauses in the heat while working on the Texas Union deck expansion Monday.

A construction project to be completed in the fall will add additional space to the Texas Union Building's outside food court, making it more accessible to the University's growing population.

On May 19, Construction crews began building a steel deck that will expand seating capacity outside and change the landscaping and lighting in the area, said Student Government President Keshav Rajagopalan.

While the patio may be inaccessible this summer, Rajagopalan hopes the patio will attract students in the fall.

During evening hours, the patio looks like an empty alley between the two structures where members of the Texas Union Board see potential night owls studying and forming discussion groups.

"What was seen before was that activity kind of dropped in the evening hours," he said. "The idea was to make it a hub between the Union and FAC."

No structural changes will be made to the interior of the Union, said UT Facilities Services manager Angie Brown.

Rajagopalan said the $757,000 necessary for the project is money set aside for building maintenance and will not affect student fees. Union business operations will generate the funds.

The board approved the project and recommended rules regulating procedures in the Union, according to various members of the board.

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