People voiced their displeasure with the Vietnam War, women upset over voting rights in the 1970s protested, and David Duke held racist protests – all in Free Speech Alley.
Now the area directly in front of the Union is getting a facelift.
Free Speech Alley is being revamped to improve its appearance and accessibility, said Ken Bueche, associate director for Union operations.
Bueche said the construction on Free Speech Alley will take place in two phases.
Phase one will be a reconstruction of the original Free Speech Alley space in front of the Union, Bueche said.
The area will be repaved with a cement design similar to the one used in the outside area between the bookstore and the post office on the first floor of the Union.
Bueche said phase one should be finished August 15.
Phase two will feature a circular speaking area surrounded by bench seating for students, Bueche said.
Bueche hopes this area will stop people from gathering at the top of the ramp going under the Union, which blocked handicap accessibility to the Union floor.
Phase two also will include renovations to Tower Drive, Bueche said.
Two large iron gates on Tower Drive will replace the yellow poles and chain used to block traffic in front of the Union between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. during the week.
The gates will be in front of David Boyd Hall, Bueche said.
Bueche said phase two of the construction should be finished around September 15.
The construction is part of the Master Plan and is designed to beautify the area, Bueche said.
“It will be a lot better looking space than just a blocked-off street,” Bueche said. “There will be a plaza for students to gather and discuss topics.”
Ron Rodi, civil engineer for CSRS Architecture, the company in charge of the project, said the design on Free Speech Alley took about six months to plan.
Rodi said progress on the construction is going well and hopes to have accessibility in front of the Union by the time school begins in August.
“What I like most about the project is the fact that we are creating more green space in front of the Union and also more plaza area for people to congregate and use instead of being in an old street environment,” Rodi said.
Free Speech Alley construction will cost about $325,000, which is $75,000 less than the project’s original budget, Bueche said.
James Halbrook, construction project superintendent, said the project is on schedule but would not give a precise date because some minor changes still exist.
“There are a lot of changes taking place to try and give more room to the trees and taking into account the flow of the students, and the engineers are working on the changes,” Halbrook said.
Bueche said the improvements to Free Speech Alley are going to make the area a better place for students.
“It will provide a better gathering space and a more aesthetically pleasing space,” Bueche said.