While you are commuting across campus, you probably don’t stop for long to think about the buildings you pass by. Take Brady Commons for example. Whether you walk through the building to escape the weather or make a pit stop to grab a meal and rest, most of the MU community interacts with the building every day. 

Now, you may be confused — what is Brady Commons? This is the previous name of what we now know as the MU Student Center. The building saw years of changes before it ended up looking like it does today. Let’s deconstruct the layers of history that led to the Student Center. 

Originally known as Brady Student Commons, this center of campus started construction in 1961 and was finished in 1963. Below, a postcard from the University Archives of the building showcases the commons completed in its first form. 

The original commons was fit to entertain, with a bowling alley and game room on the ground floor. In the 1980s, the building underwent renovations, making spaces more suitable for student gathering and leisure. This included a dancing area, a food court and lounge areas filled with vibrant colors.

In the ‘90s and early 2000s, assessments asked students about ways to improve the commons, as it no longer suited all the needs for the growing student popularity and numbers. 

Beginning in 2009, Brady Commons started its shift into the now-called Student Center through multiple phases of additions and complete renovations of the original structure. By 2011, the building was transformed into what we see today, with major renovations in appearance. 

To accommodate student needs, the phases of construction included the Center for Student Involvement to provide requested space for organizations on campus, the new bookstore and meeting rooms. The Shack was added to the north side of the commons, named and modeled after the original “shack” was closed in 1984. The Shack was a popular gathering spot for students that started in the 1920s, located where the Reynolds Alumni Center is now. 

This and additional seating in the building allowed for more food options and space for students to convene throughout the day. Instead of a bowling alley and game room, the basement now serves as a lounge with centers for groups and services. These additions and many more created opportunities that the original commons lacked.

On a campus that was founded in 1839, most of the buildings have undergone years of transformation. It will be interesting to see how gathering spaces like the Student Center change in the future, in the ever-shifting surroundings of MU’s campus. And just maybe we will get to see a bowling alley or dancing area again one day. 

Edited by Ever Cole, ecole@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Amelia Hurley and Jacob Richey