Pat Beard hopes all Kansas University students benefit from the Kansas Union renovations set for completion by the end of this year.

“That’s the intent when we do something like this  to get the most bang for our buck,” he said.

Beard, the union’s director of building services, is overseeing a $5.68 million overhaul of the union, the latest in a string of renovations.

Students have put up with closed stairways and loud noises during construction, but they’ll soon have new offices and services available  some as early as this summer.

The first item set for completion is the new Hawk’s Nest area on the first floor, near the Jaybowl. The space, which should open this summer, will include a stage, seating for about 115 people and a small snack bar.

Beard said Student Union Activities will have themed programs each night of the week, such as open mike nights, poetry readings and sports nights.

“We hope it reaches out to everybody, one night a week at least,” he said.

The Jaybowl, which has been closed since last summer, will undergo a minor facelift, including a new area for video games. It should reopen this summer.

Before the beginning of the fall semester, the Oread Bookshop will move from inside the KU Bookstore  where it’s been since 1991  across the hall to a new location with 800 more square feet.

“We’ve always had more success when it’s separate from the rest of the bookstore,” said Mike Reid, KU Bookstore director. “One of our challenges is it’s hidden in the corner of the store.”

The bookshop’s current location will be used to expand the store’s technology products, such as software and computer supplies. Also, the store will reconfigure its space for Jayhawk merchandise.

The final stage of construction  new student office space  should be complete by the end of this year or the first of next year. Organizations will have about 6,500 more square feet of offices, or 70 percent more than they have now.

Student Senate’s office will expand, and about 15 more organizations will have office space, said Danny Kaiser, director of the Organizations and Leadership Center.

“Historically, there have always been more groups apply than we have space,” Kaiser said. “From year to year, that goes up or down.

“It gives them a central place to meet, to store their supplies, to hold their activities. Other students will find it easier to find them because we’ll require them to have regular office hours.”

This phase of construction ends a 14-year, $14.6 million series of renovations at the union. The latest phase created a computer lab, The Market dining space and the Hawk Shop convenience store.

Beard said the next step in union improvements probably will include smaller upgrades, especially to the audio/visual technology in meeting rooms.