RIVER CAMPUS DESIGN BLENDS OLD, NEW; PRELIMINARY PLAN UNVEILED TO REGENTS

Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus would blend the old brick seminary with an addition and a separate horseshoe-shaped museum.

The university's Board of Regents Wednesday reviewed the preliminary design with representatives of Sverdrup, the St. Louis architectural and engineering firm hired to draw up plans for the project.

The $35.6 million project would provide nearly 158,000 square feet of building space.

The regents voiced enthusiasm over the proposed design, which was displayed in drawings and in a model layout.

Don Dickerson, board president, said the River Campus in Cape Girardeau could become the "signature point" of the university for the 21st century.

Brad Simmons, Sverdrup vice president, echoed that view. "I think we are talking about a milestone project here today," said Simmons.

The proposed design would put an addition to the south and west of the seminary building. The addition would be connected by a glass-roofed structure to the old seminary.

A large, glass atrium would serve as the main entrance to the expanded structure.

The seminary building is five stories tall. A wing on the historic building is four stories.

Construction would take advantage of sloping terrain so the L-shaped brick building would remain a dominant feature of the landscape.

The addition would include space for the art, music, theatre and dance departments, including a 1,000-seat performance hall.

A separate, two-story museum would be built just to the north of the seminary building.

"The idea is to make this building as low as possible," said Sverdrup design director Adrian Luchini.

The museum and addition with its modern shapes are designed with a view toward its intended purpose as a school for the visual and performing arts, he said.

"The arts are always looking toward the future," said Luchini.

Tree-filled grounds would be preserved near the Mississippi River, including an old beech tree.

The old handball court would be preserved as part of an outdoor amphitheater.

Luchini said the River Campus is designed to be "an icon" for the university and the area.

Brick and natural stone would be used to blend in with the historic St. Vincent's Seminary building. A gymnasium on the property would be razed to make room for new structures.

Some 300 parking spaces would be built on the west side of the property. Some additional parking might be developed near the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge being built just to the south of the site.

Luchini said additional parking might have to be developed off site. In addition, the university's shuttle buses could transport people to the River Campus.

"This is a gorgeous site. We don't want to pave it over with asphalt," he said.