Following World War II, the surge in Michigan Tech's student and faculty population required additional auxiliary spaces. With the return of soldiers, university attendance experienced a notable increase, prompting the construction of more facilities to accommodate the growing student body. The primary focus of the MUB was to establish a communal area where students could unwind and socialize. The Alumni Foundation sought support from graduates and the community, successfully securing two-thirds of the three-hundred-thousand-dollar fundraising goal. Approval for the funding came in 1950, leading to the start of construction shortly thereafter. The initial plans outlined a comprehensive facility, including a food hall, billiards room, bowling alley, lounge area, ballroom, offices for student organizations, and hotel rooms for visiting guests. Two years later, in the spring of 1952, the building was officially opened to the public.