The firm of Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates was hired to design the new building[10] with Turner Construction as the builder,[4] and in 2004, work began on the former site of Pine Grove Apartments and tennis courts.

Despite criticism from some faculty members about the expense, the opening of the new student center was considered one of the high points of John A. Fallon's troubled two-year tenure as president of EMU.

[12] A poll of campus community members found that the student center was considered one of EMU's top ten improvements between 2002 and 2012.

[13] The building offers student services, a Chase Bank branch,[14] dining facilities, meeting rooms, two art galleries, administrative offices, student organization offices, an auditorium, a 24-hour computer lab, a Kiva Room, bookstore and a gaming center.

Current food vendors in the Student Center include sites run by EMU's Dining Services, Smashburger and Starbucks.

[16] Past vendors include Taco Bell, KFC, Sbarro, Panda Express, Wendy's and Subway.

In recent years EMU has moved away from chain restaurants to sites run and owned by the university.