San Diego State celebrated on Monday, Jan. 26. the one-year mark since the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union opened.

Vice President of External Relations Jacqueline Karczewski said it was important to celebrate a student-implemented and funded idea that was 10 years in the making.

“This union is proof of the change students can make at SDSU,” she said. “Students in the early 2000s decided that they needed and wanted a union that met all the needs of modern students and an expanding student population.”

In opening ceremony of the celebration, Karczewski touched on the sustainable aspects of the student union, which is LEED Platinum certified, and includes features such as rainwater tanks to collect and reuse water.

On Monday students were able to enjoy treats and live jazz music from a student duo, participate in games and crafts, and learn about the services the student union offers.

Crafting activities included stuffing paper-made cupcakes with candy and decorating picture frames.

Cal Coast Credit Union and Aztec Lanes were among the student union-housed entities that provided information about their services.

Aztec Student Union Leadership Chair Jackie Tellez organized the opening ceremony last semester and spearheaded the planning for the celebration of the student union’s first year in operation.

“This time around we’re able to display more of what we have because everything is open in the building now, whereas when we opened (the student union), everything was new,” she said. “I thought it’d be great to have all the aspects of the building out here celebrating a great first year.”

The $104-million, 206,00-square-foot student union, which is labeled as the university’s “living room,” was paid through fees students approve in the last 10 years. The building was unveiled last January and the ribbon cutting ceremony was held last March.

SDSU’s student union was recently ranked No. 9 among the 2015 30 Most Amazing Student Unions, a list compiled by Best College Values, an organization that provides data and trends relating to college in the U.S.