Construction Delays Opening of MSU’s John Goodman Amphitheater

Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo., recently announced that the opening of its new John Goodman Amphitheater has been delayed until late October. The project was originally expected to be completed by early summer, in time for the beginning of the 60th season of the university’s Tent Theatre program. However, local news reports that “unexpected complications and pandemic-related supply chain issues” have pushed the opening into the fall.

The project broke ground in April 2021. “We’ve been waiting for an extended period of time on a steel structure, and we wanted to make sure that the project was complete the right way,” said Dr. Shawn Wahl, Dean of Arts and Letters. “The good news is, there is an end in sight, and we’re really excited to open the new space next month.”

Matt Morris, the university’s vice president for administrative services, said that the university worked closely alongside Carson-Mitchell, inc., to work through the delays. Morris said the construction delay was caused by labor and the supply of “specialized steel trusses and the structural steel” required for such a large space.

“You don’t want to compromise any kind of quality when it comes to structural steel,” said Morris. “This is such a special facility to the university. We’re not going to compromise—we did not compromise—on that structural steel.”

Spaces4Learning previously reported that the open-air amphitheater will feature a permanent stage and 350 removable seats. The project’s budget at the time was $6.4 million, and the final product will cover 7,700 square feet.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • blurry image capturing students navigating crowded hallways between classes

    How Human Behavior Data Is Reshaping Campus Facilities Management

    The ebb and flow of students, faculty, and administrators across a campus have a larger impact on maintenance, cleaning, and sustainability than many realize.

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.