History

Like the Sun, the West Bank Union rose on the East Bank before settling in on the West Bank. Coffman Memorial Union conducted programming on the West Bank in the 1960s. Coffman Program Director Carl Nelson had aspirations of creating a West Bank Union, so in 1968 he uprooted himself from the East Bank to become the first director of the newly established West Bank Union. The West Bank Union operated along with the St Paul Union and Coffman Union under the Minnesota Union Coordinating Board.

In 1976, a $1.8 million proposal was brought before the University administration to create a West Bank Skyway which would become a central part of the West Bank Union. The plans were to create an enclosed walkway between Blegen Hall and the West Bank Auditorium Classroom Building, now Willey Hall. The project was approved by the administration and construction on the new building was completed in 1980. The West Bank Skyway was born and began to flourish as a center of convenience.

In 1987, the Minnesota Union disbanded and each union operated separately until 1991-92 when the West Bank Union merged with Coffman Union. All three Unions reunited in 1999 as the two Minneapolis Unions merged with the St Paul Student Center, creating the Twin Cities Student Unions.

In the early spring of 2005 the West Bank Skyway closed for renovations. It reopened August 15th of that same year with new floors, fresh paint, brighter lighting and a more open atmosphere. The Skyway is home to the Gopher Express West convenience store which after the renovation features more space and many new products. Other services available in the Skyway include a Postal Station, OneStop Student Services Center and University Student Legal Services. The sun sets in the west, but the West Bank Skyway is set to continue shining on the West Bank.