A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Monday at Mississippi State University for the Old Main Academic Center which opens after three years of construction.
Located on the corner of Barr Avenue and George Perry Street, the Old Main Academic Center was modeled after the Old Main dormitory, built in 1880.
The building, MSU President Mark Keenum said in his speech, is the next generation of the Old Main legacy continuing to live on campus.
“This facility is destined to make the place in the hearts of current Mississippi State students that its forerunners long ago claimed in the hearts of MSU alumni,” Keenum said. “Our new Old Main Academic Center is a marvel of modern technology and offers both state of the art classroom space along with study facilities that reflect the manner in which students study today.”
Among the many features of the Old Main Academic Center include, but are not limited to, 60,000 feet of parking space, 90,000 feet of classroom space, a Library Commons area and a lounging area.
The Old Main Academic Center also features the Robert E. “Bob” Wolverton Rotunda. Wolverton’s grandson Tim, an MSU alumnus and a Legislative Assistant for Sen. Thad Cochran, said he was overwhelmed by the new facility.
“The rotunda specifically is a very sentimental gesture that reflects what it means to be a part of the MSU Family,” Wolverton said. “I’m not going to lie, it got pretty dusty seeing the dedication and having this come to fruition today.”
Wolverton said in his speech his grandfather was an inspiration to him and the students he taught.
“My grandfather – mentor, human encyclopedia, lifelong educator, venerable institution, role model – a great guy.” Wolverton said. “Through his almost seven decades of service, he has established himself not only as an inspiration to people, but also an illumination of how one should act in the day-to-day routine branded as life.”
Keenum is excited for the new building.
“I’m thrilled that we have a state of the art facility that will meet the needs of our students and generations to come,” Keenum said.
Contact Jordan Darensbourg at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter.
