Morehead State University (MSU) will soon begin multiple construction projects to revitalize its campus.
MSU Forward, a multi-year project, includes the construction of new buildings and renovation of current facilities.
“We are actively trying to make a generation leap with our facilities that students can enjoy for years to come,” said Dr. Jay Morgan, President of Morehead State University.
So, what’s coming to campus? These are the details for each project.
Science & Engineering Building
In Fall 2024, construction will begin on a new $98 million Science & Engineering Building.
Located behind the Howell-McDowell Administration Building, the new Science & Engineering Building will house academic programs, including biology, chemistry, physics, geoscience, computer science, engineering, and manufacturing.
Design on the 123,000-square-foot facility is expected to be finalized this fall.
The new Science & Engineering Building will replace Lappin Hall and the Lloyd-Cassity Building.
Construction is estimated to be completed by Spring 2027.
Residence Halls
Also in Fall 2024, MSU plans to construct a new $38 million residence hall.
This 80,000-square-foot facility will house 310 students across four floors.
The design is expected to be finalized this summer.
Construction should begin in Fall 2024 and be completed by Spring 2026.
MSU is also renovating Cooper Hall and Nunn Hall.
Cooper Hall is undergoing a more than $10 million renovation and, upon completion, the 35,000-square-foot facility will have a capacity of 175 beds.
Construction on Cooper Hall is approximately 50% complete and is expected to be finished in Spring 2025 and will be open to students in the Fall of 2025.
Nunn Hall, a 105,000-square-foot facility, will remain at its current capacity of 400 beds. The more than $3 million renovation includes:
- New paint
- New countertops and lighting
- Patch, paint, and re-finish the exterior walkways
- New elevator equipment
- New chiller & other mechanical equipment
Construction on Nunn Hall is being completed in two phases.
The first phase concludes this summer, and the second will be completed by Summer 2025.
Cartmell Hall will be torn down sometime after the new residence hall is completed, possibly by 2026.
New Multidisciplinary Classroom Building
Additionally, Morehead State will begin construction on a new multidisciplinary classroom building.
This 120,000-square-foot facility will house the business administration and music programs.
The $90 million in state funding becomes available in July 2024, and the programming and design process will soon follow.
Construction is anticipated to start in Fall 2025 and conclude in Summer 2028.
This facility will replace the Bert T. Combs Building and Baird Music Hall.
Ginger Hall And Camden-Carroll Library
Both Ginger Hall and the Camden-Carroll Library are undergoing renovations.
Ginger Hall is currently undergoing a $1.75 million renovation of the entire building, including new lighting, ceilings, flooring, and paint on all floors.
The building also received a full exterior cleaning and a new chiller has been installed.
The Camden-Carroll Library is currently undergoing a $1.15 million renovation.
Completed projects for the library include replacing both roof levels and the building’s chiller and installing a fire suppression system for the collections area.
The first floor will have new finishes, flooring, ceilings, lighting, and paint.
Plans also include 16 new offices for academic advisors on the first floor.
These improvements are actively under construction and scheduled for completion by Fall 2024.
Second floor renovations will follow once the first floor is completed.
Improved Parking
Wetherby Gymnasium and the Laughlin Health Building will be torn down to create an entrance to campus and increased parking.
This will create an additional 400 new parking spaces on campus.
Craft Academy Expansion & Renovations To Alumni Tower
The Craft Academy, a residential academy for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors, will be expanding in the Fall 2024.
In the Fall 2023, Alumni Tower became the home of the Craft Academy and its 200 students.
Alumni Tower went through extensive ground floor and partial upper floor renovation to accommodate the academy moving into the tower for future growth.
Other Campus Improvements
Many of MSU’s sports facilities are undergoing improvements, including:
- The football facility receiving a new artificial surface.
- The Men’s and Women’s track receiving a new surface.
- Jayne Stadium undergoing exterior painting and branding, along with updating the stadium press boxes.
- Softball and baseball upgrades, including a new scoreboard, fence screen, Big Blue Wall, new turf project, batting cages, field equipment, re-play systems, and new field tarps.
Meanwhile, the Academic-Athletic Center is undergoing a large branding project on the front of the facility.
Elsewhere across campus, the MSU Police Department is preparing for a new space.
Renovations are underway on the first floor of the Educational Services Building on E. Main Street, which will become the new home for MSUPD in May.
The Kentucky General Assembly also approved significant asset preservation funds for MSU, which have already used to replace roofs and HVAC units for various buildings, upgrade facilities, renovate space and internal repairs.
Plans are in the works to allow Eagles to keep a piece of several facilities through a new memorabilia program.
For more information about memorabilia, contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033 or alumni@moreheadstate.edu.
For more information on MSU’s campus revitalization, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/forward.
