Mississippi State University is keeping udate with construction and renovation across campus. However the construction is still causing headaches. MSU has several active construction projects on campus. Some are nearing their completions, while others are completed.
“Of course new construction across campus can cause many pains,” Joe Farris, director of University Relations said. “However in the long run, the benefits are endless for students.”
Cresswell Hall, a five-story freshman male dorm, was reopened this semester upon completion of its renovation. This was the result of an ongoing effort to renovate one residence hall a year for 15 years. This same type of renovation is now under way on the nearby Hathorn Hall, which will be reopened for residency Fall 2003.
“The plan now is to renovate a dorm a year,” Farris said. “This way on-campus housing will improve their looks and upkeeping for students.”
In addition to the dorms, repairs and renovations are being made on other campus buildings as well.
The restoration of Montgomery Hall, located beside Perry Cafeteria, is already well under way. This building, originally built in 1902, is a designated National Historic Place and a Mississippi Landmark. It will serve as the home for Enrollment Services, Student Support Services and the Division of Student Affairs once renovation is finished.
McCain Hall, another historic building on campus that dates back to the early 1900s, is undergoing renovations at this time as well. This building, also a designated Mississippi Landmark, will house the administrative offices of the College of Engineering, the engineering Graphics department and the engineering and Industrial Research Station upon completion. It is located in the northeast corner of the Drill Field.
“The McCain Engineering building will be completed this fall,” Farris said. “If not October, then November.”
Expansions and reconstructions to the Hand Chemical Laboratory and the Longest Student Health Center are also in progress.
The renovation of the Hand Chemical Lab focuses on the air handling system. Two million dollars of the $6.9 million project is coming from the National Science Foundation. State funding is also contributing to it.
“Hand Lab is in the second phase of construction,” Farris said. “Phase one was to renovate indoors while phase two worked on the outside.”
The expansions made to The Longest Student Health Center will increase the size of the waiting room and improve patient access to the facility.
In addition to the renovation of out-dated buildings, the construction of new buildings is also underway. These include the new Landscape Architecture building and the new alumni building, both scheduled to open later this year.
Construction of the $3.7 million landscape architecture facility located between Ballew and Thompson Halls will provide approximately 20,000 square feet of space. The facility is designed to use very little energy for lighting, heating and cooling. It will house three pools of harvested water, an amphitheater and several demonstration theme gardens. A portion of the area will also be restored to a prairie landscape, and tree and shrub plantings will help control the heating effects of the sun.
The Hunter Henry Center, located on Barr Avenue and University Drive will be the new home for the MSU Alumni Association and the MSU Foundation. The center, designed by the Foil Wyatt Architects of Jackson, will encompass approximately 41,000 square feet and will include a ballroom, an amphitheater, several meeting rooms, gardens and reflecting pools.
Not only are improvements being made to campus buildings, but steps have been made toward the improvement of parking and transportation by the addition of a new gravel lot that holds approximately 400 cars on Hardy Road and the widening of Blackjack Road on the south side of campus.
“I think it is great because it will enhance the campus for future students,” junior Marvin Thompson said.
Other changes to transportation have also resulted from the construction. Magruder St. has been closed on the south side of campus due to the renovation of Hathorn Hall. This has also lead to the cancellation of the Rice/Magruder stop on the Gray Shuttle Bus Route.
Also, the renovation of Montgomery Hall has resulted in the temporary closing of the east end of Darden Avenue. and Creelman Street is now two-lane to Tracy Drive.
Students reactions to the construction are mixed, but overall people seem to understand that the products of the construction will be worth the inconveniences.
“I think it’s about time that they renovate these buildings, even though it is an inconvenience for students,” freshman Brittany Clay said.
Farris said that construction will have it’s downfalls, but will always benefit the MSU student in the long run.
“Take a look at Swalm, there was a lot of construction and was feared by students,” Farris said. “Now, it is one of the nicest buildingson campus that benefits all students and faculty.”
“These buildings are very old and very pretty so it is a good thing that they are renovating them so they can look nice and be up to date,” freshman Becky Sorey said.
“The campus is beautiful, but I don’t want to be charged extra for the beautification,” junior Tremayne Hausley said.