After 10 months of dust and noise, the Memorial Union renovations are nearly complete.

“We sure would like people to stop in and give us a big round of applause for the end of the project,” said Kathy Svec, marketing director of the Memorial Union.

Everything from the student offices to ground floor bathrooms have changed to create a more welcoming atmosphere, Svec said. The most obvious change students will notice is the Food Court.

“We did lots of things, such as surveying the students, to get a firm idea of what they wanted. Students wanted recognizable, brand-name food that is practically priced,” Svec said.

McDonald’s Express and Subway are the most well-known restaurants to be added to the Food Court. Others, such as Casa Ortega and Chick-fil-A, are making their Iowa debut, she said.

Ed Bartles, a senior in civil engineering, said, “It’s a little odd, but that’s okay. It’s nice having real food here.”

The new ground floor design also fits the needs of the university, Svec said. “The decor in the Commons is different. It’s cleaner and brighter. We did a number of things with the windows and lights giving it an airy feel,” Svec said.

These changes are combined with ideas borrowed from other areas of the Union, she said. For example, the entryway of the Commons and Food Court will mimic the building’s oval west entrance. The old front entry to the Browsing Library will now be the entry to the Chapel to make room for the library’s new foyer.

An additional change to the ground floor is the location of the offices located in the Union.

Some of the offices, including the Off-Campus Center and the Student Activities Center, are in their new permanent locations across from the recreation center in the basement.

Stephanie Chervinko, program assistant for adult learner and commuter student programs in the Off-Campus Center, believes the move will eventually benefit the office and the students it serves.

“It will take a little bit for them to find us down here because we are a little more out of the regular flow of traffic,” she said.

The student offices are expected to open in middle to late September north of the Commons. The winding hallways clogging up space before the renovation will be replaced by a square block of offices on both sides of the Browsing Library and Chapel.

A variety of events are planned to celebrate the Memorial Union’s new look. The Food Court is holding a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 27 beginning with a short program and ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m.

Guests are invited to sample food served at the new restaurants and meet the Panda Express Bear and other characters. Food Court customers also will receive a grand opening ticket good for free copies at the Memorial Union copy center and other discounts in the building.

The Off-Campus Center, Student Activities Center and Campus Organizations Accounting Office are planning an open house for Wednesday, Sept. 4 to allow students to get acquainted with their new offices. Everyone is invited and refreshments will be served.