Students and faculty filled the Campus Life Building on March 2, 1995, to dedicate and celebrate a dream that began in 1985. 

“This is an important occasion for the university. A dream was established 10 years ago [from 1995] for the services of student affairs to be housed in one building,” said then-NIU President John La Tourette.

The building provides opportunities for students at a central location, according to a March 3, 1995, Northern Star article.

A time capsule was planned to be buried containing a memory book commemorating 25 years of the Student Association; Northern Star newspapers from April 23, 1994; the SA’s official 25th anniversary invitations from the dedication; letters from public relations advisers; the 1968 and 1964 SA constitutions and a copy of the dedication speech made by Donald Dudycha, the first SA president.

The capsule was planned to be opened in 2019.