The Lowman Student Center was built in 1964 in honor of University President Harmon Lowman.

Previously, the Student Union Building, built in 1950, and before that, Austin Hall, had been hub for student activities. However, in 1960s, the Department of Music needed more space. As a result, the Music Building was renamed Music 1, the Student Union Building became Music 2, and the Lowan Student Center was built.

The Lowman Student Center housed the university's only indoor swimming pool, which closed on December 31, 1991, due to continuous equipment breakdowns, lack of exposure, and subsequent disuse. Between 2000-2002, the pool area was converted into a large ballroom as part of an $11 million renovation. This renovation also included new meeting rooms, an information center, expanded dining venues, a two-story atrium, internet access, teleconferencing capabilities for conference rooms, and the latest games for the expanded game room.

In 2009, it was announced the LSC would be demolished to build a more up-to-date student center as part of the 2008 Campus Master Plan.

The Lowman Student Center underwent an extensive expansion that started in 2017 and ended in 2019. Another renovation quickly followed and was completed in March 2020, the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. These projects featured the new and improved Kat Klub, a student lounge with an eight-lane bowling alley, arcade games, pool tables, ping pong tables, TVs, couches, gaming systems, a small performance space, and the Three Horse Tavern Pub (closed in Fall 2022). It additionally includes a long with a new 10,000-square-foot ballroom, several dining options, and an open-concept atrium featuring large windows looking out towards the Frank Parker Plaza (formerly the Bearkat Plaza).