The ever-changing landscape of the Arkansas Tech University campus in Russellville will soon see more improvements following actions by the Tech Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Thursday.
The ever-changing landscape of the Arkansas Tech University campus in Russellville will soon see more improvements following actions by the Tech Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Thursday.
Arkansas Tech will invest $306,050 in renovations to Crabaugh Hall. As a result, the home of the Arkansas Tech College of Education will receive two new classrooms, six new faculty offices and renovations to existing faculty offices, corridors and restrooms.
Trustees also approved the sale of bonds to finance the planned renovation of Chambers Cafeteria and a proposal to put the Campus Court residence facility up for sale as is rather than demolish it.
Campus Court, located near exit 81 off Interstate 40 in Russellville, was a motel before Arkansas Tech purchased it in 2006 and converted it into student housing.
The chain link fence around Campus Court will be removed and used to enclose the band practice facility on campus.
In addition to those changes, the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees also took the first step toward a much larger project on Thursday.
Trustees approved a proposal to explore the possibility of constructing a new, four-story facility similar to Rothwell Hall on the parcel of land currently occupied by Bryan Hall.
According to a memorandum from David Moseley, senior vice president for administration and finance, Arkansas Tech will start the process by searching for an architectural firm to plan the proposed new facility.
Administrators also plan on providing trustees “with a detailed plan and cost analysis in the December board meeting for four major capital projects that could be accomplished over the next three years.”
Trustees had previously granted the university permission to explore an expansion of the Doc Bryan Student Services Building, but the memorandum from Moseley stated that “it is apparent from our planning meetings that Doc Bryan will be very difficult to expand and still not adequately satisfy all of our operating requirements.”
That finding is what led the university to seek permission to begin planning the new four-story facility just south of Rothwell Hall.
If the plan comes to fruition, Bryan Hall will be demolished in order to make room for the new facility. Originally a residence hall, Bryan Hall was constructed in 1955. Today it provides the university with administrative office space.
Doc Bryan Student Services Building was constructed in 1998. It is home to the Office of Student Services, the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Admissions, the Office of Student Accounts, the Office of Financial Aid, the Doc Bryan Tutoring Center, the Doc Bryan Lecture Hall, the Mary Anne Salmon Student Government Association chamber and several meeting rooms for student organizations.
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