Renovations and additions are set to begin on the Springfield campus of Missouri State University campus as workers prepare to carry out the master plan for the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS).
The plan calls for a 66,000-square-foot, four-story addition to Temple Hall, University President Clif Smart says in a Clif Notes presidential update. It also calls for renovating 40,000 square feet of existing lab space and 48,000 square feet of existing classroom, office and common space in Temple Hall.
The plan establishes three goals: to provide for the future of CNAS,; enable research; and increase visibility for science, Smart says.
Temple Hall has not been renovated since its construction in 1971. Other renovations will be carried out in Cheek Hall, Kemper Hall and King Street Annex, reports The Standard, the student newspaper.
Smart said renovations will cost $20 million, and the additions will cost $40 million.
“The United States and the State of Missouri currently have access to unprecedented one-time funds,” Smart said. “Our goal in the coming months is to work to match federal and state funds with private contributions and university reserves to fund this project.”
Tamara Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, said the master plan will enable the College of Natural and Applied Sciences to compete with other universities of similar size.
“The square footage needs will make us comparable with others,” Jahnke said. “This will provide new and renovated laboratory spaces for students, which is very important for the recruitment of new students and retention of current students.”
