After months of construction, many students may be left wondering when the Academic Commons Building will finally be finished. 

Although officials are unsure of the exact date of completion, the building should open by February, said Vice President of Academic Affairs John Thornell.

“We’re saying Feb.1,” Thornell said. “We can’t predict exactly — we thought it would be completed by the end of the fall semester. When you deal with construction you inevitably run into last minute hitches. What’s happening is they’re just tying up some loose ends over there and trying to get to a point where they can finish it. Now they’re saying they anticipate being through, for full occupancy, by Feb. 1.” 

The first floor, where all of the retail establishments will be located, will be finished first and could possibly open shortly after the spring semester begins, with the second and third floors opening as late as Feb. 1, he said.

“Some of the retail establishments want to open as quickly as possible in order to start having business, in order to start serving students,” Thornell said. 

The opening depends on whether or not the building will be suited for the future tenants to move in. Another concern is that the groups may not have enough time to settle into their new spaces before the anticipated opening date, Thornell said.

“If both of those turn out to be true, then it could be when the students come back on campus in January, they could find that those first floor operations are open,” he said. “I think the safest thing to say is that everything will be open in February, and that’s the only thing we’re fairly sure of — the other pieces are a little bit uncertain.” 

The first floor of the Academics Commons Building will contain Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A and Frostbite. The Starbucks will feature an outside space with tables for students to enjoy their drinks outside. Wi-Fi will be available in the building as well.

Courtney Hobbs, a student, thinks the Commons Building will be a good addition to campus, she said. 

“I think it’s great,” Hobbs said. “It’s awesome. I won’t be here though. I graduate in December, but I’d be most excited about more options for food, Chick-Fil-A mainly.”

The bookstore, Listerhill Credit Union and the Mane Card office will move to the Academic Commons Building and also be located on the first floor, Thornell said.

The second floor will be the University Success Center and will include the Writing Center, a math lab, advising services and a couple of classrooms. The Financial Aid office, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, a large classroom and a conference room will make up the third floor of the building, Thornell said.

Freshman Garret Godsey agrees and s is not angry with how long it has taken to finish the building, he said.

“I’m a chemistry major,” Godsey said, “so compared to the time it took for the science building to get off the ground, it’s kind of nice.”