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

  • Utah Valley University Opens New Engineering Building

    Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, recently held a grand-opening ceremony for the new Scott M. Smith Engineering Building, according to a news release. The facility is one of the largest engineering buildings in the state at almost 200,000 square feet, and it plays home to the university’s Smith College of Engineering and Technology (SCET).

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

Digital Edition