Just as the Memorial Union celebrates its 77th birthday Wednesday, plans for renovations of the building have been delayed because of budget concerns.

Richard Reynolds, director of the Union, said the original plans for the renovations were “significantly” over budget, which has contributed to the delays.

“Effectively the project has been moved back about a year,” Reynolds said. “What we were hoping for last year was there to be beginning construction in March or April.”

He said the new plans have reduced the scope of the renovations and that parts of the project have been removed. The remodeling of second-floor meeting rooms have been cut out as well as a terrace that would have been placed on the new south addition. The southern part of the building will be the most noticeable change and will have an “open and inviting environment,” Reynolds said.

Other add-ons will be a new retail space that will be rented out as well as expanded space for the University Book Store, Reynolds said.

“Despite the delay in the project it’s going to be a major improvement to the Memorial Union, and what we’re hoping is that we can devise a way through our capital budgets project to begin to do some things that were cut out of the project,” said Reynolds.

Tom Hilton, project architect for HLKB Architecture, the firm responsible for the renovation designs, echoed Reynolds’ statements.

Hilton said they are in the process of putting together all of the designs that will be sent out to contractors who will actually complete the work. He said the reason for the delay is that they were designing off of false numbers that put the project way over budget.

“We’re designing around real numbers now which gives me a lot more confidence that it’s going to come out under budget,” Hilton said.

He said the bidding for the contract will begin this January with the groundbreaking happening sometime in April.

The renovation delays have not dampened the spirits of those who have organized the birthday party.

Opening on Sept. 23, 1928, the Union was built as a living memorial to honor those who had lost their lives in World War I. Throughout its history, the Union has undergone many changes and plans more renovations to help keep the Union current.

The MU Birthday Free Chili & Soup Supper is scheduled to take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday on the terrace of Memorial Union.

Kathy Svec, Union program coordinator, said the chili and soup supper includes “all the fixings.”

“The Union makes really wonderful chili, in my opinion,” Svec said.

Svec said the party is geared toward the Iowa State community and will include an appearance by Cy. A cartoonist will be there to draw portraits and there will be a jewelry-making station.

Susan McKinley, junior in pre-journalism and mass communication and the special events director for the Student Union Board, said she worked closely with Svec to plan this party.

If the weather is bad the party will be moved inside to the commons of the Union, McKinley said.