The Workspace, as it exists today, was created in 1969 as the Union Craft Center by the Student Union Board. The Union Craft Center was originally intended to be an arts and crafts program. The goals were to increase student awareness and participation in the arts and crafts media. The Union Craft Center would offer informal classes in popular and traditional crafts so students could learn new art processes, and work creatively during their leisure time.

When the Union Craft Center opened in November of 1969, it was housed in a small room behind the bowling alley in the Memorial Union. There was no structured schedule of class at this time although two mini-classes were held for nine students. The area was supervised by one part-time employee.

By the summer of 1970, the Union Craft Center was moved to a more accessible location in the northeast corner of the Memorial Union. This new facility was comprised of one room for hobby and craft classes. A schedule of classes, 2-10 classes per quarter, was set up. Classes included macramé, batik, sand candles, tie dyeing, stitchery, and children's photography. On the average, 20 students per quarter participated in the classes.

In the fall of 1971, the Student Union Board decided to make the Union Craft Center a permanent program area, and a craft director was hired. The craft area was doubled and new classes and workshops were added. Because there was still a shortage of space, classes were also held at the university's married housing complexes.

Between 1972 and 1973, the Union Craft Center expanded once again, taking over the entire basement wing, 3000+ square feet. A ceramics studio was added as a joint project between the GSB, University Recreation, and the Memorial Union. Added equipment included six potter's wheels and a large electric kiln.

Classes were now offered in the morning, during the day, and at night. Fifty to sixty craft and recreational classes were offered each quarter with 200-250 students participating.

As the demand for classes grew, the Union Craft Center expanded its open hours in 1974 from 28 hours to 58 hours. Open hours were funded by a $4000 yearly allocation from Campus Recreation. During the summer of 1973, 456 people used the facility. In the time between the two summers, 7247 people used the arts and crafts area and 1176 were involved in classes and programs.

In 1979, the Union Craft Center continued to offer classes in clay, wood, jewelry, two-dimensional media, fiber, and children's classes. During that year, the Center offered 54 classes and workshops with 300 people participating.

In 1984, the Union Craft Center officially changed its name to the Workspace.

In 2003, there were close to 2500 Workspace users over the year and nearly 500 people took classes. Classes continue to expand in media and numbers, and the Workspace has become an integral part of the Memorial Union today.