Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union (RSU)
Creating a Campus Living Room
Fresno State’s new Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union (RSU) was designed to embody the “Pride of Place” that defines the campus and the deep regional pride surrounding the University. The RSU reflects the agrarian grid of the Central Valley while opening eastward to frame views of the Sierra Nevada, anchoring the campus with a design that connects landscape, identity, and student life.
The new student union complements the existing facility while offering a welcoming, transparent presence that draws students in from multiple directions. Positioned as a gateway, the building invites newcomers with food, coffee, and open gathering spaces that encourage lingering between classes.
As students progress in their academic journey, they discover upper floors programmed with opportunities for deeper engagement, supporting clubs, organizations, and campus activities that foster belonging and involvement.
Inside, interconnected spaces create opportunities for connection and flexibility. A grand stair doubles as social seating, oriented toward a projection screen that supports everything from movie nights to live sports viewings. The meandering lounge, envisioned as the “campus living room,” winds throughout the building to provide a variety of scales and settings, whether for quiet respite, small group work, or vibrant socialization.
The RSU’s massing defines a central courtyard that honors the legacy of the campus amphitheater while creating a contemporary hub for outdoor events. This flexible zone accommodates pre-function gatherings for multipurpose rooms, major student events such as Vintage Days, and informal everyday use. Bold branding elements enliven the town-center bustle, extending activity into the courtyard and across the campus core.
Material selections reinforce both durability and identity. Precast insulated concrete panels, manufactured off-site and installed on-site, provide a high-quality finish for both the interior and exterior while expediting construction and minimizing disruption. Metal panels and soffits accentuate entry points to simplify wayfinding. One quarter of the building’s energy load is offset by photovoltaic panels, demonstrating Fresno State’s commitment to sustainability.
Students arriving from surrounding neighborhoods and bus routes to the south encounter an open, welcoming entry sequence that encourages them to pause—grabbing coffee, meeting friends, or joining campus organizations—before continuing through to the academic core on the north side. In this way, the student union becomes a conduit between campus life and academic pursuits, a literal and symbolic center of the Fresno State experience.
Recognized with a 2023 American School & University Magazine Outstanding Design Award, the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union now stands as a home away from home for Fresno State students, offering nourishment, respite, and belonging while strengthening the heartbeat of campus life.
