University of Missouri to demolish Mizzou North building but keep the property
The University of Missouri plans to demolish the Mizzou North building on Business Loop 70 instead of trying to sell it as originally planned.
The building opened in 1940 as the Ellis Fischel State Cancer Hospital on what was then Highway 40. Construction was funded by a $500,000 appropriation from the state and $409,000 from the Public Works Administration. It had 85 beds when it opened.
It became the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in 2004. The cancer center moved to a $190 million, eight-story expansion of MU Hospital in 2010.
The building most recently housed the Museum of Art & Archaeology and Museum of Anthropology collections. Those are being moved to Ellis Library on the main campus, MU spokesperson Christian Basi said Friday.
"The building has never officially been on the market," Basi said, though officials did make efforts to seek a buyer.
After reviewing the matter, officials decided to demolish it, he said.
"We felt we wanted to keep the land," Basi said. "We are going to demolish the building. It's an important piece of property to hold on to for right now."
There has been no decision about a future use for the property, he said.
"The plan is to hang on to it," Basi said of the property. "The building is not in the shape where we can continue with its operation. There are significant deferred maintenance issues."
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The building has older systems that also need to be replaced, he said.
The building was part of a space reduction plan in which eight other campus buildings would be demolished.
Mizzou North has annual operating costs of $1.25 million and almost $55 million in maintenance requirements.
Demolition could happen late this year or in spring 2023, Basi said.
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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: MU officials decide to demolish Mizzou North instead of selling it
