Photograph of the newly constructed College Union on San Francisco State College’s Lake Merced campus. The College Union—later known as The Commons—opened in fall 1953 and served as a central gathering place for students and faculty. Constructed by the State of California and leased to the Associated Students, the facility included a main dining room seating up to 500 students, a snack bar called the “Redwood Room,” and two smaller dining rooms designated for faculty (and students on special occasions). The building’s broad glass façade and clean modern lines reflect the architectural style of the rapidly expanding postwar campus.
