FAU is renovating an empty room on the Boca Raton campus into a “commuter lounge” as part of a broader expansion of the student union. Student union director Chris Lynch told University Press the lounge would provide all students with a place to relax and recharge between classes. Work is underway, but no opening date has been announced.
The project will transform the Diamond Palm Room, located next to the esports arena that opened on the first floor in 2020, after a year of waiting, as reported in a previous University Press article. Lynch said the student union designed the Diamond Palm Hall that same year, but the space was temporarily reused for events while a plan for permanent use was being evaluated.
According to Student Union Expansion 2024 documentation, the university’s proposed plans include a new one-story building for a multi-purpose event center, an outdoor courtyard leading to the library, updated exterior facades for existing facilities and minor renovations to three first-floor spaces, reportedly including Diamond Palm Room. No specific completion date for the full expansion project has been officially confirmed.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. University Press staff writer Bree-Ann Ferraro contributed to this report.
