When the new HUB design was chosen by the HUB Master Plan Steering Committee, it was everything that most students and administrators desired: a state-of-the-art building with large airy spaces that connects the entire university and even ‘Gold standard’ certification by Leadership in Energy and Enviromental Design (LEED).

However, the major drawback to this design was the $188 million students would have been required to pay through increases in student activity fees.

With all construction projects requiring final approval from the Board of Regents, Vice Provost of Student Life Eric Godfrey emphasized the cautious approach the board took to the new HUB design when it was brought before them for the first time.

“The Regents expressed concern about the cost and impact of the new HUB on students,” Godfrey said.

Based on the concern of the Regents, during the summer the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), ASUW, Student Life Office and the Student Activity Fund Committee members came together to collaborate on ways to reduce the cost of the HUB renovations and make it more affordable for students.

From these summer collaborations came success, with the estimated cost of renovating the HUB dropping from $180 million to $100 million. Responsible for the drastic reduction in cost were three significant deviations from the original HUB proposal.

The most significant difference from the original plan came from the decision to not completely renovate the HUB.

As the Husky Den and dining level were renovated less than 10 years ago, GPSS President Jake Faleschini said it did not make sense to renovate them again.

“The renovations will focus on the main upper spaces that everyone views as the face of the building,” said Faleschini. “The HUB will still get all the seismic upgrades we were looking for.”

Translated, this means students will still get the new exterior building that they wanted with large windows and airy rooms, but they will also save money by keeping the current Husky Den and dining level.

Another option brought up during the summer collaborations was the possibility of the UW administration contributing money toward renovating the HUB.

“The University will consider a contribution,” said Godfrey. “But it is a common practice for university students across the country to pay for their own HUB.”

One example Godfrey pointed to is Washington State University. Students there, he said, taxed themselves to pay for their new student union building that recently opened.

The last project embarked upon to reduce the cost of renovating the HUB is perhaps also the most ambitious one.

Citing the success of the recent Husky Promise campaign, Faleschini is optimistic about raising an additional $20 to $25 million through a private capital campaign.

“We went to two private consultant firms and asked them for estimates,” he said. “Both thought it would be feasible to raise $20 to $25 million.”

If these projects are successful in reducing costs and raising private capital, students stand to benefit a great deal. Assistant Student Life Vice Provost Lincoln Johnson said the estimated additional cost to students would no longer be $180 million, but closer to $66 million.

While these projects are just beginning to gain momentum, with the estimated construction date set for 2010, UW Junior Tiffany Truong is impressed with the effort put forth by the students and administrators involved with the HUB renovations.

“I think they are doing a great job in trying to reduce the fee,” she said. “It really shows that they realize every extra fee we pay is an extra burden, and that they empathize with us.”

Reach reporter Nathan Lee at news@dailyuw.com.