Opened for business in August 1990, the bulk and presence of the Student Activities Center (SAC) has gathered the rest of the campus around itself ever since.
Its nearly 150 foot clock-tower with 10-foot clock faces on all four sides is an instant and easily recognizable campus (as well as Louisville) landmark.

Designed to further enrich the campus experience, the SAC encompasses a quarter of a million square feet.
Among many other facilities, it houses a state-of-the-art movie theatre with Dolby SR (the first one in Kentucky), a fast-food promenade, a huge cafeteria, giant bookstore, Cardinal Games Room, and meeting rooms in its West Wing.

The East Wing of the SAC houses the Athletics and Intramurals offices and gymnasium.
It has four full size basketball courts and 8 racquetball courts that give U of L's 23,000 students a place to play. In addition, a 5,000 square foot weight room helps to keep them in shape.
The east and west wings of the Center are neatly divided by the rails of the CSX System. Freight trains rumble through several times a day, which can barely be heard inside.