Campus contruction continues

By Jaryd Wilson

Published June 6, 2007

Extended deadlines and rising costs have been a staple of development plans at MU, but the construction continues to renovate and buildings are added as part of the 2007 MU Campus Master Plan.

One of the most noteworthy projects under construction is the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute on the northeast corner of the Francis Quadrangle. The project, which began December 2005, will renovate the Sociology Building and a major portion of Walter Williams Hall, as well as construct an addition between the two buildings.

Campus Facilities spokesman Phil Shocklee said construction is scheduled to finish in June 2008.

The project, which carries a price of $20 million, is funded by a $31 million gift from the Reynolds Foundation. Another addition and renovation is Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall, which is a $25 million project to renovate the 1922 and 1935 additions of the east engineering building.

Shocklee said construction should start in August and finish by 2009. New classrooms will be added and mechanical and electrical access will be improved.

Several science and technology buildings are also being improved. Schweitzer Hall will have an addition to its south side, as well as a connecting bridge to Schlundt Hall Annex. According to the Campus Master Plan, the addition will house laboratories, office and support space for seven faculty and departmental offices and a nuclear magnetic resonance facility.

"The project is currently under construction and should be completed in the fall," Shocklee said.

The Research Reactor will have an addition for lab space, with construction to be completed this summer. The Life Science Business Incubator is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2008 in Research Park, and the International Institute for NANO & Molecular Medicine is under construction across the street. Several residence halls are also under construction. Mid-Campus Housing will be located west of Graham residence hall where Baker-Park and Gardner-Hyde halls are. The $58 million project will add 270 beds in a three-building complex and administrative offices between Graham and Defoe halls will also be added. The old buildings were torn down last month, and the process is underway for the new halls to be built in their place. The new halls will be suite-style, whereas the old buildings were community-style.

Schurz residence hall is under construction, and 27 beds will be removed. Hatch Hall, next to Schurz, will reopen in the fall and Schurz will open in fall 2008.

The last major project on campus is the new student center and Brady Commons renovation. This project is scheduled to begin next month and will be completed in two phases. Phase one will create an east addition to Brady Commons, and phase two will renovate the current building.

Shocklee said phase one will cost $32 million and will be completed in January 2011.