Murray State launched several new, ongoing and planned construction projects this last year, leaving students both grateful and inconvenienced.
Murray State continues to expand and renovate infrastructure across campus, from the new nursing building to window replacement at the Blackburn Science Building. According to the University, this construction is intended to enhance the overall experience for the campus community and visitors. The new construction has been an inconvenience for some, however, especially as parking spaces become limited.
“While these projects are important for the growth of the University, we recognize that they can create temporary inconveniences, including impacts to parking availability, and we appreciate the patience of our entire campus community during these projects very much,” said Jason Youngblood, assistant vice president of facilities management.
According to a statement by Youngblood, there are 19 ongoing construction projects on campus. This includes the construction of the new nursing building by Faculty Hall and the Learning Commons by Hart Residential College. This also includes renovations and improvements at the Wellness Center, Stewart Stadium and Expo Center.
Along with the ongoing construction, there are also over 26 planned construction projects to start soon. This includes major projects such as the new Veterinary Sciences Building and parking expansion around the new Learning Commons. The University also plans site repairs near the nursing building, various concrete sidewalk repairs and replacements for the roofs at Winslow Dining Hall, as well, and the Biology Building and Chemistry Building.
Currently, the University is working on HVAC repair at Faculty Hall, Wellness Center and the Collins Industry and Technology Center. HVAC repairs are also planned for Wilson Hall and Wells Hall.
The campus’ temperature control has been a particularly hot topic for students as the campus switches from heating to cooling for the rest of spring. Anna Westerfield, a freshman elementary education major, said she was uncomfortable over how hot the dorms had been prior to the switch.
“Me and my roommate have always struggled with either being too hot and not being able to get any air or anything in our room, or it just being freezing cold and it can’t retain heat,” she said. “It’s never just a good in between.”
Westerfield said the ongoing construction projects would help students and improve lives on campus. As a Hart resident, she said the building projects have also posed a problem in terms of parking, rendering it hard to find a spot.
“Since I go home on the weekends, I’m always losing parking spots and having to go on the lower lots,” Westerfield said. “Just having to go back and forth with taking all my luggage and my bags, it’s kind of a pain.”
Rhiannon Loven, a freshman studio art major, said she wasn’t affected by the parking situation on campus, but the construction has been a slight annoyance on her walk to classes in Faculty and Blackburn. Loven, who attends classes in Blackburn, said the biggest problem regarding the construction has been the lack of communication with students and professors over how long the construction will take.
“Just giving updates would have been nice to the professors as well as my blanket opinion,” Loven said. “However, it is nice to see the progress, like the nursing building that’s going to be right next to the Faculty Hall. Since seeing it (in) my first semester here, it looks entirely different, and it’s really nice to see that.”
Loven also said it would be nice to see campus improvements to temperature control in the dorms. Instead of having a set heat for winter and cold for summer, she said she would like to be able to set the temperature in the dorms instead of just shutting off the AC.
For more information on available parking, visit the campus interactive parking map.
