Overview:
The Bone Student Center is one of the most landmark features on Illinois State University’s Campus. It was built in 1973, and has served as a staple landmark for students ever since. The building resides right beside the beautiful quad, and students filter in and out all day long. Inside you can find peaceful study areas, such as the Atrium Lounge. There is also the enormous Braden Auditorium, which hosts many important speakers and is a main destination for concerts in the central Illinois area, such as Iggy Azalea in 2014. There are also many convenient shops such as Barnes and Noble, and restaurants like McAllister’s Deli. To learn all about the Bone Student Center has to offer, check out some more information on this page.
Hours of operation:
Monday – Saturday: 7:00am-11:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am-11:00pm
Address: 100 N University St. Normal, IL 61761
Phone Number: (309) 438-4636
Features:
Something great about the Bone is that there are so many different rooms—each one serving a different purpose. From small study areas, to conference rooms that can seat 200 people, to the Braden Auditorium, a massive concert hall which seats thousands, there is a room for everyone. One room that may have a student relaxed in a study environment is the Atrium Lounge. This room acts as a common area with large windows and many plants, and can make even the most stressed out student feel overcome with tranquility. Another room that you’ll be able to find all kinds of students blowing off some steam at is the Bowling and Billiards Center. This building’s purpose is just what you’d think it would be: a bowling alley and several pool tables. Come here if you’re looking to relieve some stress, or take a study break after spending a few hours at the close-by Milner Library. The Bone Center also has many conference rooms, such as the Brown Ballroom, which hosts many big events such as the Career Fair, and is also home to the famed Winterfest, a day-long event (usually in February) that showcases many RSOs on campus. There are also conference rooms such as the Circus Room and the Old Main Room, which are primarily used for meetings in a professional setting. The top floor has a quiet study area and a coffee-shop setup with the tables, providing seating for individuals or groups of two. Mostly all of these rooms are open as long as the main building is open, so there is opportunity to stop by all day long.
Braden Auditorium:
The Braden Auditorium is an immense hall located in the Bone Student Center. The Braden Auditorium seats 3,483 people. Many bands have performed here, speakers have presented here, and many events have been hosted here. Some of the most elite celebrities and bands have performed here, such as Kiss, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, and Bill Cosby. Iggy Azalea and Craig Robinson performed there last year (2014), and Hunter Hayes will be playing on November 7th, 2015. Not only do celebrities come here, but also there are charity events such as Chi Omega at Illinois State University’s March Madness, a dance team competition that raises over $35,000 a year for the Make A Wish Foundation. It’s very clear that this place alone leaves a legacy for Normal, bringing many people to this great town.
Events:
Hosting an event sometime soon? The Bone Student Center offers anyone the opportunity to book a room, no matter the occasion! The most popular room to book is the Brown Ballroom, which can be used for large events such as seminars or banquets. There are many more rooms, such as the Circus Room, which is perfect for lectures or dinners. Scheduling an event is easy: all it takes is one simple call to the scheduling office at 309-438-2222 between the hours of 8:00am-4:30pm on Monday, or 8:00am-9:30pm Tuesday-Friday. Also, an option for those looking to book online can be found here. The rate depends on the room and the size of the event, along with how many seats will be needed.
Restaurants:
The Bone Student Center offers a wide variety of restaurants for people to eat at. On the main floor there are the fast food chain restaurants, such as Burger King and Pizza Hut, which will provide you a quick, easy and cheap meal for those who are short on time but still need a bite to eat. Down on the bottom floor is where the real restaurants can be found. You can get a delicious, fresh-baked bagel and a hot cup of coffee from Einstein’s Bagel Bros, a go-to breakfast hotspot for students all over the area. There is also the campus-famous McAlister’s Deli, which serves a range of mouth-watering sandwiches, offering a menu that is simply beautiful, which can be found here. If you ever stop by, don’t hesitate on ordering a side of their mac n’ cheese. They also have a killer homemade lemonade recipe, which plenty of students around campus enjoy. If you have the chance, this is absolutely a restaurant that is worth the (sometimes) long wait.
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Burger King Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8am-10pm
Friday: 8am-6 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 3pm-9pm
Pizza Hut Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 11am-7pm
Friday: 11am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Einstein’s Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7am-10:45pm
Friday: 7am-6pm
Saturday: 8am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-10pm
McAlister’s Deli Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 11am-8pm
Sunday: Closed
So what makes the Bone Center so special?
There are quite a few reasons why the Bone Student Center is a real treasure at Illinois State University. Its many features give students of ISU and residents of Bloomington-Normal reason to congregate together for all sorts of events. It’s a landmark that has many great public figures enter before, and one that many future greats will one day walk in to. Some see it as just a building at a school, but it really is so much more, and learning more about how much has happened there in its 42 years of existence makes people aware of the impact the Bone Center really has on the community in the area.
