Engineering expansion to commence in August

By Jaryd Wilson

Published April 17, 2007

As the construction plans and renovations to Brady Commons and the School of Journalism continue, students will see more building projects erected this year.

The College of Engineering had its groundbreaking ceremony for a $21 million expansion of its campus headquarters Friday.

The expansion is part of the MU Campus Master Plan, which aims to improve space and facilities for students.

The southern side of Lafferre Hall, formerly known as Engineering Building East, will be extended into the grassy area behind Hill and Townsend halls. The project also will renovate the 1922 and 1935 additions of the building.

"On the south side of the facility, there will be a demolition and a new facility will be built in its place," Campus Facilities spokesman Phil Shocklee said.

According to a College of Engineering news release, the purpose of the renovations is to replace outdated and structurally unsound facilities with modern and flexible classrooms and laboratories. Shocklee said construction is set to begin in August.

According to the master plan Web site, the project will replace about 25,000 square feet of substandard space with 60,000 square feet of new construction in a three-story building.

Improvements will be made to general classroom space, the building exterior and to structural, mechanical, electrical, access and life-safety systems.

According to the release, funding for the construction comes from a $2 million federal grant and a $19 million loan approved by the UM system Board of Curators in July.

The release stated that plans for renovation of the College of Engineering call for six more renovation phases with an estimated total cost of $120 million to be completed within 20 or 30 years.

Shocklee said renovations would benefit the Capsule Pipeline Research Center, which is a state research center funded by the National Science Foundation, and various areas of engineering including chemical, civil, mechanical, aerospace and nuclear engineering.

Shocklee said the renovation would also allow students and faculty members to conduct more experiments applying their theoretical research because of the increased amount of laboratory space.