YSU Teaching Assistant Shradha Suman Yadav of Youngstown, originally from Nepal, adds color to the Kilcawley Center Send-off Community Mural Thursday afternoon...by R. Michael Semple

YOUNGSTOWN — Today is the final day for the painting of a panorama mural on the side of Kilcawley Center on the Youngstown State University campus to mark the end of the student center and celebrate the start of a two-year renovation.

Kilcawley Center will close May 5.

The mural is designed by YSU art students Lauren M. Barrett and Emma M Strope-Downs under the direction of art professor Dragana Crnjak. The event is sponsored by Kilcawley Center, Student Activities and the Department of Art.

Even though it will have a short life, the mural is designed to bring the YSU community together through a week of creativity, reflection and celebration.

The public is invited to paint the mural 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

The new, modernized campus center will open in fall of 2027 and is being touted as an exciting addition to the university with striking gathering spaces, flexible and spacious meeting rooms, a new, open dining area, black-box theater, and many more assets to better serve students and the campus community.

The Kilcawley Center renovation will take place in phases. University officials said they are committed to meeting the needs of the campus community during all phases. Each phase will be detailed and updated on the university’s website to ensure communication and limit disruption of campus services.

Starting May 5, the relocation of the IT help desk to Maag Library (Room 406C); relocation of accessibility services to DeBartolo Hall, third floor (Room 357); renovation of the temporary card office in the Beeghly Center lobby; and the renovation of the basement of Silvestri Hall for the temporary office of graphic services, student activities, Penguin Productions and student government will take place.

From May 5, 2025 to May 11, 2026, the following areas will be closed: The Cove, Snack and Chill, Kilcawley Center Food Court, Dunkin’, Jamba Juice, Pete’s Treats, Wendy’s and all Kilcawley Center meeting spaces. Pop up dining, a convenience store and soft seating will be available in the Chestnut Room. Rookery Radio and The Jambar newspaper offices will move to Bliss Hall.

The following areas will remain open: Chick-fil-A, catering kitchen, vending machines near Chick-fil-A and the Resch Academic Success Center.

During the summer 2025 semester, Chick-fil-A, Christman Dining Commons and Cushwa Cafe will be open, as will a Dunkin’ kiosk in the Chestnut Room and a mobile food trailer that will arrive June 2. During the fall 2025 semester, the above locations will remain open, as will Food Lockers, Maag Cafe, Schwebel Cafe, temporary dining commons in the Chestnut Room and Kilcawley Center vending machines.

In the summer of 2026, Chick-fil-A will close and the catering kitchen will relocate to Christman Dining Commons, while the temporary Chestnut Room food services will close. The loading dock renovation will begin and the temporary relocation of the Resch Academic Success Center and relocation of the Kilcawley staff office between Beeghly Center and Silvestri Hall will take place. The dining provider office and SERVEPRO office will move to their new locations in the summer semester of 2026.

The new food court and catering kitchen will open in fall of 2026 and after the final renovations take place, the grand opening of the new Kilcawley Center will take place before the start of the 2027 fall semester.

The renovations at the university’s student center carry a price tag of about $57 million, according to Becky Rose, director of marketing and communications at YSU. With Monday’s capital funding approval, more than $22 million has been raised in pledges, gifts, donations and state funding.

The building was constructed in the 1960s, opening in 1965. Its last major renovation was in 1979.

The ongoing Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign to support the renovations through gifts and donations kicked off in November and already has garnered more than $8 million in private contributions, according to Rose.