The Campus Master Planning and Development Advisory Committee of Mississippi State University awaits approval for the demolition of Evans Hall, expected to begin fall 2014.
Tim Muzzi, director of the architect facilities management, said approval for the destruction of Evans Hall is dependent on the Institute of Higher Learning, a board of trustees that approves major construction implants on campus.
“This is a part of a process of getting approval for two new residence halls. Evans Hall is one of them,” Muzzi said. “After approval and the selection of architects, we will start with the drawings to demolish Evans.”
Muzzi said the plans for Evans Hall were decided about two to three months ago by the Campus Master Planning committee, and so far, there are no imminent plans to begin destruction on any other residence halls this year. 
Roger Baker, campus master planner, said there are multiple potential sites for the second residence hall to be built, none of which have been approved.
“The master plan shows the possibility of the old Smith site, directly south of North Hall and the old Suttle site, directly south of Ruby Hall to be the possible sites for the second residence hall to be built,” Baker said. “The reason these two sites are in consideration is due to the fact that we wouldn’t have to tear down another existing residence hall.” 
Baker said the Evans Hall destruction is a part of the 2010 master plan for campus to acquire 5,000 beds for graduate and undergraduate students.
“The goal is to have the new residence hall in place of Evans complete by the fall of 2016,” Baker said. “We are also really trying to make sure our residence halls are not only residential, but a living-learning environment such as Griffis.”
Bill Broyles, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, said this spring’s student housing application renewal process will not feature Evans Hall as an option for the fall and spring semesters of 2014-2015.
After careful analysis by engineers and architects, Evans Hall has been determined an unworthy candidate for the investment of the extensive funds that would be necessary to renovate the building, according to Bill Kilber, the vice president of Student Affairs.
“Although the loss of the 200 bed spaces in Evans will have a temporary impact on available housing on campus, planning is already underway to build a new state of the art residence hall on the site where Evans Hall is currently located,” Kibler said.
Kibler said the new residence hall in place of Evans is expected to house around 350 to 375 students.
“The addition of the new residence hall will serve to increase capacity and improve the overall quality of on-campus housing,” Kibler said.
Baker said all residence halls are funded with MSU housing funds. State funds are not appropriated to the construction of residence halls. Decisions on the co-residency status or name of the prospective residence hall have not been decided.