Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Mississippi College to Convert Former Junior High into Arts Complex

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/07/21

Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss., has announced that it will convert a former junior high school facility into a fine arts building. The college acquired the Clinton Junior High School building in 2010. The complex will be named in honor of Dr. Samuel M. Gore, a former MC Art Department faculty member, to become the Gore Arts Complex.

The Gore Arts Complex will feature amenities like studio space for drawing, painting, sculpture, papermaking, pastels and woodworking; an outdoor kiln in a covered courtyard; an auditorium; and more. Some features from the junior high like cubbyholes, coat racks, and terrazzo and wood floors will be kept in honor of the building’s history.

“It’s so fitting that this facility, where new generations of artists will learn, be named in memory of Dr. Samuel Gore,” said Dr. Blake Thompson, president of Mississippi College. “Dr. Gore lived to share the story of Christ and tell that story through art. There is no better example for future artists to follow. Dr. Gore transformed lives through his art, and his teaching—and MC—will continue that legacy in this building that bears his name.”

The project is being funded partially through a $1-million gift from a charitable organization. The college is partnering with CDFL and Alliant Construction for the renovation and design process. Construction began shortly after Thanksgiving, and the project is expected to be complete by the beginning of the fall 2022 semester.

“The potential of this building is remarkable, because it will have a multidisciplinary effect,” said Dr. Randolph B. Miley, professor and chair of art at MC. “With the new auditorium, we’ll have the opportunity to do outreach to the community with art. Once we get things running, I think the ideas are just going to start generating quickly. And it will attract more artists here to study.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.