Providence, R.I. - Providence College will celebrate the opening of the newly expanded and renovated Slavin Center with a dedication and blessing on Thursday, September 24, at 3:30 p.m.

The ceremony, which is open to the College community and public, will include a speaking program, a blessing, a ribbon-cutting, and refreshments. The addition will be open for touring following the ceremony.

The Slavin Center, which opened in 1971, is the campus's student union. The two-level addition on the south side that was completed in early September represented the first major construction at the building site since its opening, though the facility has undergone numerous renovations over the years. Construction took less than eight months.

In total, 8,800 square feet of new space has been added and 560 square feet of space on three levels has been renovated. The estimated cost of the project is $6 million.

The expansion created two new enclosed, occupied levels. The lower contains a student lounge with an adjacent coffee/smoothie area. The upper level features a quiet student lounge space for studying and small social gatherings.

The work has resulted in several new seating areas, some with televisions, for students to use in an alcohol-free environment.

The primary renovations to the building were the expansion of studio space for WDOM-FM radio and PC TV.

The project's visual highlight is a glass-enclosed, two-story atrium with a new major entrance to the Slavin Center. The atrium's rooftop features photovoltaic cells to harness solar energy for the building.