2009 MU Campus Master Plan: Introduction

Renewing MU's valuable building resources

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute project renovated two historic buildings — the Sociology Building and Walter Williams Hall — and built a connecting addition to house modern media technology.

The University of Missouri campus contains over 6 million gross square feet (GSF) of building space classified as Educational & General (E&G) housing teaching, research and administrative support. Nearly 70 percent of this space is over 30 years old and over 40 percent exceeds 50 years. These older structures constitute a resource that, in future years, will prove exceptionally valuable to MU. That value can be realized by a partnership of campus interests dedicated to achieving the most effective use of existing facilities to further MU's academic mission.

New E&G space represents 25 percent of the total building area added to the campus since 1980. Student activity functions, residential, athletic, medical, research and parking facilities constitute most of the building area growth during this period. Like other U.S. flagship universities, MU's expansion was a response to a host of demands for services and support activities to maintain its mission and comply with changing standards and mandates.

Challenging economic climate

In the current economic climate, new facilities construction has slowed and will remain so for the indefinite future. A scarcity of public and private funds for capital development affects U.S. institutions of higher education.

The new construction slowdown presents a challenging opportunity for MU's academic mission leaders and facilities managers to collaborate in giving new purpose to these older resources with the following shared goals in mind:

Renovations preserve resources

Thirty-four campus buildings have been identified as priority candidates for renovation. While age and obsolescence make them prime choices for renovation, their resource value to MU is paramount: These buildings occupy key locations in the historic fabric of MU; many are irreplaceable icons essential to the campus' unique character; many are among the university's most heavily used academic buildings; and, comprising two million square feet, the buildings represent one-third of MU's total inventory of E&G space.

A comprehensive renovation strategy is critically important in remedying deferred maintenance, new code requirements, and mechanical, spatial, material and occupant- comfort deficiencies that come with aging buildings.

The renovation investment can also be leveraged in other ways. Where it proves economically impractical to maintain old uses, space can be adapted and reprogrammed for new uses. Departments with space scattered across the campus can be consolidated in renovated buildings and some renovated facilities can be expanded with additions rather than building wholly new structures. Recent examples of this include Townsend, Schweitzer and Lafferre halls, and the Reynolds Journalism Institute. Where renovation candidates no longer utilize prime sites to greatest effect, those sites can be redeveloped for new uses. Combinations of these measures will represent a high level of campus stewardship and sustainability.

Through a rigorous determination of MU's mission and needs, administrative and academic leadership will ultimately determine which uses and programs will occupy renovated E&G buildings. The MU Campus Master Plan can provide the university with sound planning principles and stewardship guidance in making older campus buildings its newest resources for the future.