The opening of the new Aztec Student Union has been postponed—for a couple more months at least. Though the building was initially slated to be ready when classes start in Fall 2013, an unforeseen delay has set back the opening date to late fall, with some services pushed to Spring 2014. No exact opening date has been released.

“I just ask that students be understanding,” Associated Students Marketing and Communications Manager Lorena Nava Ruggero said. “It’s going to be above and beyond what we had in Aztec Center, better than what we had hoped for and expected.”

Construction for what will be the first Leader in Energy and En- vironmental Design Platinum-certified building in the California State University system began after the previous Aztec Center was demolished in August 2011. The certification is granted by the U.S. Green Building Council to structures that make serious efforts to save money, conserve energy, reduce water consumption, improve indoor air quality, make better building material choices and drive innovation.

Ruggero said it was mostly underground work such as finding utility lines and digging for basements that delayed construction of the Aztec Student Union. Ruggero said plans did exist for the underground structure, but having no GPS for the exact locations of utility lines was problematic.

“We had to be much more careful when we dug up,” Ruggero said. “Obviously, no one wants to open up a sewage line in the middle of campus.”

An exact date for the building’s opening is set to be released in late summer, Ruggero said. The late semester opening will provide some of the promised services, including the Aztec Recreation Center Express, which is a satellite addition to the Associated Students fitness center; Aztec Lanes, a bowling and video game center; a new Starbucks and Aztec Market location with an integrated Shake Smart kiosk.

“I’m sure there are many students who are not aware that (the Aztec Student Union) won’t be available at the beginning of the fall semester, but we are committed to having some services available during the fall semester,” Ruggero said.

Student organizations that used to hold their meetings at the Aztec Center, but have been gathering in Aztec Mesa since construction began, will not be able to meet in the student union until Spring 2014 because of “scheduling issues,” Ruggero said.

“For the past two years we haven’t had a place where we can all get together,” A.S. Vice Presi- dent of External Relations Javier Gomez said. “I feel like the (Aztec Student) Union is going to bring the student body closer and really create that Aztec pride and campus community that we all want.”

A live stream of the construction can be watched online at as.sdsu. edu/aztec-student-union/

Ruggero said all scheduling plans discussed are subject to change.