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

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.