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Nia Kamau ’22, Student Trustee, provided the Invocation for the dedication -
Dr. K.C. Mmeje, Vice President for Student Affairs at SMU -
Student Body President, Austin Hickle ’22, provided remarks on how the Hughes-Trigg Student Center impacts student life on campus -
Former Student Body Presidents in attendance at the dedication post with Dr. K.C. Mmeje, Vice President for Student Affairs. Pictured from L-R: Dr K.C. Mmeje, Darian Taylor, David Sherzad, Austin Hickle, and Blake Rainey
The completion of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center renovation project was marked by an official dedication ceremony on the afternoon of Friday, October 1, 2021. A multitude of alumni, staff, and faculty were in attendance to celebrate the occasion, including several former student body officers who were influential in establishing the vision and paving the way for the project to become a reality.
The Hughes-Trigg Student Center is our hub on the hilltop and our headquarters for student leadership and engagement. It is home to SMU’s Student Foundation, Student Senate, Program Council, Greek Councils, and the Office of Social Change and Intercultural Engagement. It also provides a friendly and inclusive space for our Veterans Center, our Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life, and the Women and LGBT Center. The building itself is a testament to SMU’s vibrant campus life.
The Hughes Trigg Student Center began with a love story. Built on the site where alumni Kitty Hughes Trigg and Charles Trigg met nearly sixty years before it’s unveiling. On homecoming day in 1987, Katie Hughes Trigg and Charles Trigg gifted this center to the SMU community, honoring the love of their student experience on the hilltop. Now after more than 30 years, the Hughes-Trigg Student Center has undergone a much-needed renovation and is once again the Hub on the Hilltop.
In May 2019, SMU launched a long-awaited multi-phase renovation of the Student Center. Open throughout construction, the phased project began with a full renovation of the Varsity and Mane Course. Students fell in love with spaces designed just for them featuring the Dallas-based Cinco Taco and a Chick-Fil-A expanded to provide full-service. The newly-imagined Varsity pairs a lower-level dining and hangout space with an elevated, fully-accessible gaming area featuring pool tables and shuffleboard. Eight big screen televisions and a SMU-centric design complete the modern and inviting space.
In 2020, the entire 2nd floor (L2) underwent renovation and now features a monumental staircase in the atrium, modern office suites, and inviting communal spaces. Design elements showcase Mustang spirit and pride with modern conference and meeting rooms outfitted with user-friendly technology. L2 also features new ablution rooms for our Muslim students’ prayer preparation. We’ve enhanced storage throughout the building, and visitors will find family restrooms on every floor. Level one’s (L1) open floor plan includes a new entrance on the east side to support the southeasterly growth of campus, a lactation room, and the wildly popular Panera Bread. The entire project enhanced building accessibility for all who utilize HTSC.
Explore more about the Hughes-Trigg Student Center at www.smu.edu/htrigg or give to the HTSC Renovation Project at https://giving.smu.edu/hughes-trigg-renovation/.
