UMD Unveils New Kirby Rafters

DULUTH, Minn.– UMD’s Kirby Rafters has received a makeover right on time for the start of their spring semester.

The Kirby Rafters is an event center at University Minnesota Duluth that has lived many lives.

Originally starting as a student lounge center, The Rafters has now transformed to a venue for small concerts karaoke and board meetings.

According to UMD staff, the space is being used for something almost every day.

The university unveiled the new space on the first day of the 2025 spring semester.

“We took an existing space and gutted it and reimagined it. So that people can come right into the space. We’ve got better sight lines, better technology, we can fit more guests in here which is really great,” said Jeni Eltink, the Director at UMD Kirby Student Center.

This space is not only used for board meetings but it also hones in on student connections as well.

“Students are in class and they’re studying, but they’re also looking to find their people. They’re looking for ways to be able to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. And these spaces in Kirby Student Center really gives them a chance to take what they’ve learned, and put that in a new context,” said Eltink.

The Rafters were introduced in a remodel of the center back in 1965.

It mainly served as a place for administration.

In 1971, offices moved out of that space to make room for student activities.