Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Truman State University to Renovate Historic Building into Student Success Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/08/22

Construction will begin soon on the campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., to convert a historic building into a Student Success Center. The Kirk Building, built in 1923, has been closed to students since August 2020 and used primarily for storage. A renovation project was announced in February 2022 with construction scheduled to begin in August. A recent local news story reports that construction is on track and that university officials have been conducting meetings with architects during the summer and into the fall.

“We have been in need of renovating the Kirk Building for some time, and student success is really important to us at Truman,” said Janet Gooch, Truman State Executive Vice President of Student Affairs and Provost. “So, we started thinking about student needs and our needs as an institution for the renovation of Kirk, and we put it all together and realized that what better way to use Kirk—which is right there in the center of the university—but to be a building for all units that support student success?”

Local news reports that the project is estimated to cost $21 million. About half the funds are coming from the American Rescue Plan, while the other half comes from community partners in northeast Missouri, said KTVO. Completion is currently scheduled in January 2025.

A university press release reports that the new building will play home to “the Career Center; Tutoring Services; the Student Health Center; Counseling Services; Student Access and Disability Services; the Center for Academic Excellence; the Communication Lab; and the Writing Center.”

“What’s really unique about the particular project that’s going to go in the Kirk Building, it’s not just services that will be available to Truman students, but we’re going to open those up and make those available to the community, as well,” said Gooch. “To help our community with workforce development and provide young people and adults out there who are looking to expand their knowledge and skills the opportunity to use those services, as well.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

    Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • 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.