MU Board of Governors votes unanimously to approve

construction of student recreation center and two new residence halls

Links to the images provided by Capstone Development Corp. for the Student Recreation Center and new residence halls can be found at www.marshall.edu/www/images/rec/

During a special meeting today, Marshall University’s Board of Governors unanimously approved in principle a $94 million public-private project for the construction of a new 123,000 square-foot student recreation center, two new living/learning residence halls, and baseball and softball fields.

 

The resolution adopted by the Board authorizes the Chairman of the Board and the President of Marshall University to execute bond documents, ground leases, development agreements, management agreements, construction agreements and any other documents necessary to start, finalize and complete the project.

 

The project, which was developed jointly with Capstone Development Corp. and its partners, will involve construction of the student recreation center and two residence halls near the 5^th Avenue and 20^th Street section of Marshall’s Huntington campus. Additionally, construction of new baseball and softball fields will occur in conjunction with this endeavor. However, their location and construction timeline will be the subject of a future announcement.

 

“I want to thank Chairman Menis Ketchum and the members of Marshall’s Board of Governors for their unanimous support of this innovative plan for moving Marshall University forward,” Marshall University President Stephen J. Kopp said. “These modern facilities will make us more competitive as we expand our student recruitment efforts and dedicate ourselves to growing full-time student enrollment at Marshall University. They will also help advance a more vibrant and engaged campus environment, one that fosters greater student achievement, retention and graduation rates.”

 

Kopp said the residence halls are scheduled to open in August 2008, while the student recreation center is expected to open in January 2009.

 

“Capstone Development Corp. and their partners have been instrumental in the progress that has been made in the planning of this major project,” Kopp said. “Through their experience, considerable expertise and tireless efforts, they have interpreted our vision for these new physical facilities and transformed them into futuristic facility plans that will meet the needs of our students for the foreseeable future.”

 

“Capstone views our work with Marshall as not simply a ‘project,’ but as a long-term partnership to help transform the campus,” said Michael A. Mouron, president of Capstone Development Corp.  “We are honored by the trust the University has placed in our team and look forward to a successful project for the Marshall students.”

 

Mike Meadows, director of facilities planning and management at Marshall, said the general public and Marshall community need to be aware of changes that soon will take place on or near the construction sites.

 

Beginning on Monday, May 21, areas that no longer will be open to students and the public include the running track near 20^th Street, the Marshall tennis courts and the MU softball field.

 

Demolition of the 20^th Street Baptist Church, located at the corner of 5^th Avenue and 20^th Street, will begin on May 21, Meadows said. Fence work to secure the demolition site will begin this week, he said.

 

Meadows also announced impending lane and sidewalk closures. The north, or left lane of 5^th Avenue from 19^th Street to 20^th Street will be closed; two south-bound lanes of 20^th Street, starting midway between 3^rd Avenue and 5^th Avenue and continuing to the 5^th Avenue/20^th Street intersection, will be closed; and, the sidewalk on the north side of 5^th Avenue and a portion of the sidewalk on the west side of 20^th Street will be closed during the duration of the project. Demolition of the church is expected to take about 45 days.

 

“Because of the street and sidewalk closures, we would like to ask everyone to exercise caution when they are near the work site and ask them to work with us during the duration of the project,” Meadows said. 

 

Mascaro Construction of Pittsburgh, which built Marshall’s Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center, is the contractor for the project. Master Mechanical Insulation, Inc., of Huntington is doing the church demolition.