MSU starts partial demolition of Blunt Hall to make way for new addition, renovation

Missouri State is taking advantage of less traffic on the Springfield campus this summer to complete much of the loudest and most disruptive demolition at the recently renamed Roy Blunt Hall.

The building formerly known as Temple Hall is the headquarters for the university's College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

The first phase of the project, which includes demolition of part of the building and its surrounding plaza and the construction of an addition will cost $80 million.

Mark Wheeler, university architect and director of planning, design and construction, said Blunt Hall is a "massive project" and required a significant amount of planning.

"We try to do the most disruptive work to campus when there are the least amount of people here," he said.

In early June, crews removed the sculpture, trees, landscaping, hammock stands, and bike racks outside of the large building.

The clearing of the site included taking down the stone retaining wall and paver bricks.

Wheeler said much of the concrete has been piled onto a section of surface parking south of Grand Street but it will not be hauled away.

"They are going to grind that up and use it in the project," he said. "So, it is not going in the landfill."

What's next for Roy Blunt Hall

The first phase will result in the following:

• Modern and well-equipped labs;

• Office suites for departments housed in the building (biology; geography, geology and planning; and chemistry and biochemistry);

• Office space for graduate students;

• Collaboration space for students and faculty.

Blunt, the retired U.S. Senator, was instrumental in securing funding for the project.

More: 'We got everything we asked for,' MSU president says of $75M federal funding haul

The project manager, Laura Derrick, provides a weekly update on the project, which is available on the university's website.

Temporary walls were erected in preparation for demolition of the east entry and the auditorium lobby in late June and the work will take more than a month to complete.

Wheeler said there is still limited activity inside Blunt Hall this summer. However, as many as 10 faculty offices have been relocated.

The large lecture halls will not be used temporarily because they are adjacent to where much of the demolition and the new construction is planned.

"We are really excited about the project," he said.

Wheeler said the next big step is to start excavation part of the area next to the existing building for the addition.

The second phase of the project is the renovation of the existing hall, which is 50 years old. Some of that work still has to be designed.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MSU starts partial demolition of Blunt Hall before new addition