Two years after crews razed the original Burge Union, construction is nearing completion on its thoroughly modern replacement.

Located in the heart of the University of Kansas’ Central District, the new student union is slated to become KU’s largest public event and conference space. The facility will feature a 10,500 square-foot event space known as The Forum.

Other highlights include state-of-the-art audio/video capabilities, full catering by KU Dining Services and a coffee shop and convenience store open to students, faculty, staff and campus visitors alike.

When it opens April 2, the new Burge Union will also house offices for support services such as the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, Legal Services for Students and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center.

Here’s a glimpse of what the Journal-World saw during a tour of the building earlier this month.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lisa Kring, director of Building and Event Services, left, and Mark L. Reiske, associate director of KU Facilities Planning and Development, right, pass between the new Burge Union, pictured at right, and the new 280,000-square-foot Integrated Science Building, left. Both buildings are integral parts of KU's new Central District.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The new 33,000-square-foot Burge Union at KU, center left, will open April 2, 2018. At right is the Integrated Science Building, which is projected to be open this summer.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The Forum, located inside KU's new Burge Union, is a 10,500-square-foot public event space featuring state-of-the-art audio/video capabilities. It can host up to 1,000 guests.

photo by: Mike Yoder

This area of KU's new Burge Union, near the north entrance, will house the Roasterie coffee shop and the Hawk Shop convenience store.

photo by: Mike Yoder

The offices for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center and the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity will be located near this west entrance on the first floor of KU's new Burge Union. The stairs at right lead to the offices of Legal Services for Students, a reflection space and a lactation room.

photo by: Mike Yoder

This large second-floor bathroom in KU's new Burge Union offers a space for religious students to wash themselves before praying.

photo by: Mike Yoder

This view shows the west exterior of KU's new Burge Union, center, with the new Central Utility plant at right and the Integrated Science Building pictured at left. The Jayhawk Trail, an accessible, multi-use path connecting campus from the Kansas Union to the West District, runs between the student union and the new science building.