Pershing, Ryle continue construction

Pershing Building's approximate $15.5 million general construction project is complete and Ryle Hall is in the final stages of its $19 million renovation.

In Pershing Building, the newly constructed south wing, approximately 34,000 square feet, and a renovated south half of the existing building are finished, Campus Planner Mark Schultz said.

Ryle is in the second stage of a two-year construction project, currently renovating the south half of the residence hall, Schultz said. Schultz said the project will be completed by July.

The newly constructed south wing of Pershing Building will Please see house the communication disorders and nursing departments along with health and exercise science labs and training facilities.

The existing south wing renovations include new heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems in the natatorium, a new athletic weight room, offices and remodeled classrooms. Equipment should be moved in within the next three weeks,Schultz said.

Only details like doors, locks and tiling are still outstanding, Schultz said. Furniture is being loaded in and Information Technology Services is installing technology.

Pershing Building will be occupied fully before next semester.

Originally, Pershing Building was going to be renovated in its entirety, but state funding from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority was cut by more than $10 million, so only half the project was completed, he said. Some local funds were contributed.

"The state has been making noises about re-establishing that funding source to finish that out with what they promised us originally," Schultz said. "I don't know if or when that will occur — I hope it does."

He said if the funding would come through, the north end of Pershing Building would receive the same improvements as the south end.

Junior nursing major Kyle Eggemeyer said he thinks the new addition looks great.

"It brings [nursing majors] closer to campus," he said. "It feels like we're another major on campus. It always felt like we were separated."

Eggemeyer said the layout of the nursing department is convenient with a centrally located lab, surrounding classrooms and nearby faculty offices. He said not only does the addition benefit the nursing department, but it benefits other majors located in Barnett Hall, because those now will have more space.

Eggemeyer said the new facility will enhance the nursing department's reputation, especially to potential nursing students.

Joey Gerbes, River City Construction project manager, said the project, which began in fall 2009, went well overall.

Gerbes said the biggest challenges of Pershing Building construction were winter weather and keeping the natatorium and gymnasium open to students.

Schultz said the south half of Ryle would look similar to the already completed north half, including handicap-accessible rooms with more floor space and roll-in showers.

All rooms now have heating and cooling systems.

Other improvements include lounges, kitchenettes and studies on each floor. New fire alarm, electrical and sprinkler systems also were installed.

The center rooms are elevated half a flight of stairs and use community-style bathrooms. Each room in this section has a sink.

Because these rooms are not handicap-accessible, the floor lounges were moved to the corners of the building because the elevator on either side of the building can reach that space along with the suite style rooms, Schultz said. Approximately 10 percent of residence hall rooms on campus have to be handicap accessible, he said.

All residence hall renovations are funded internally with local funds and bonds.

Schultz said Ryle's renovations are taking place now because it has not been remodeled since its construction in 1963.

"HVAC systems are good for about 50 years, electrical systems are good for about 50 years — they were getting tired," he said. "We needed to go in and be able to do major gut renovations to get down to the bones of the building to fix those plumbing issues, to fix those heating issues."

 John Gardner, director of the office of Residence Life, said the biggest challenge with Ryle's renovation was doing half of the building at a time.

Gardner said he is happy with the results thus far.

"If you look at our renewal numbers for where student renewed to for next year or where returning students chose to come back to, Ryle was by far our largest building," he said. "Eighty percent of the building is returning students."

With the renovations, Ryle Hall housing costs did increase, costing approximately the same as Blanton-Nason-Brewer.