SEMO MAPS OUT CHANGES

Southeast Missouri State University is mapping out major changes in its physical campus that could occur over the next 20 years.

The plan includes renovation of several major buildings, construction of a new vocational-technical building, relocation of a number of student services to the north end of campus, and elimination of traffic through the center of campus.

The Board of Regents Friday refused to endorse the plan, saying it needed more time to review it. Regents said the plan might be revised.

University officials stressed the campus master plan is a 20-year blueprint for change, based on a growing student enrollment that is expected to reach 10,000 students in the coming decade.

No cost estimates have been calculated for the various changes.

The goal is to develop a more user-friendly and student-oriented campus.

Under the plan, the university would renovate and enlarge Parker Hall and transform it into the campus student center.

The University Center would be turned into a visitors center, and Wildwood, the home of the university president, would become a student commons building with new student housing surrounding it.

The northeast corner of the campus at Sprigg and Bertling would be turned into a recreation complex, with an improved track, new softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, concession areas and restroom facilities.

As a student center, Parker would contain a food court, Student Center offices, bookstore, textbook services, student organization offices, lounge spaces, meeting facilities, computer labs and retail space.

The opening of the new College of Business building on the north end of campus this fall will shift student usage away from the University Center.

"The focus of the campus is moving north, particularly with the business school," said consultant Becky Zahner who worked with a campus committee to develop the plan.

The University Center, which has served as the student center since its opening in September 1975, would become a visitors and conference center. The building is already heavily used for conferences.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, executive vice president, said the University Center has been underutilized because of its location on the southwestern edge of the campus.

The visitor's center concept would provide easy access to the public. The University Center would house such offices as admissions and some student services.

Parker Hall has about 40,000 square feet of usable space as opposed to 60,000 square feet in the University Center. To accomplish the student center swap, Parker Hall would probably require a major addition, said Dobbins.

State finances cannot be used to build or renovate student centers. But bonds for the Student Recreation Center will be maturing in two years, and the university may consider reissuing bonds that would be paid by student fees.

The plan envisions changes to Academic Hall with the departure of the College of Business to the new Dempster Hall.

The English department would be relocated to Academic along with a one-stop, student-service center. English is a requirement of all college freshmen, and would bring newcomers to the university's landmark structure, officials said.

The plan would also limit through-traffic, and add more green area to the center of campus.

"We have a problem on campus where pedestrians meet vehicles," said Dobbins.

As such, the master plan would limit traffic in the center of campus. Circle Drive behind Academic would be closed to through traffic as would Cheney Drive. Parking would be eliminated on Normal Drive.

Ridership of shuttle buses has doubled in the last two years, and Dobbins expects ridership to double again as through-traffic is limited. The university has already purchased another shuttle bus.

The goal is to circle the inner campus with a single route, providing shuttle stops every six minutes.

The plan also calls for construction of three parking garages that could accommodate nearly 3,000 cars, including 1,800 in a two-level garage west of the Show Me Center.

Future student housing around Wildwood would be "small-scale, almost suite apartment type housing," Zahner said.

Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president, said the president likely would receive a housing allowance to purchase or rent a home.

Wallhausen said the university doesn't need more housing now. The housing changes would be needed only if the university meets the goal of 10,000 students.

Two of the four Towers high-rise residence halls have been renovated. The other two would be renovated under this plan and Residence Life offices moved to the complex.

The university is preparing to construct a garage near the Sprigg and Washington streets intersection. It will house the university's shuttle buses.

BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE, PROPOSED CAMPUS MASTER PLAN

Phase I -- years 0-10

A. Renovations, Demolition, New Construction

Renovate Social Science Hall

Relocate Child Study Center to Dearmont

Renovate Art Building

Partial renovation of Brandt Hall, Grauel Hall, Scully Hall, Old Dempster Hall, Serena Hall, Johnson Hall and Magill Hall

Parker Hall addition and renovation

Renovate Academic Hall

University Center renovation

Show Me Center addition

Sturdent Recreation addition

Relocate crime lab

Phase I facilities management building

Bootheel Education Center Upgrade

New Technical Education facility

Memorial Hall HVAC and parial renovation

New central chiller plant

Central monitoring and control update

North campus chiller replacement

Campus energy conservation measures

Demolish selected buildings

Main campus tunnel repair and replacement

Main campus power plant steam system

B. Parking, traffic and shuttle system

Re-route shuttle system

New transit storage and operations facility

Develop new parking at demolished building sites

Delete parking on Cheney Drive, Circle Drive and Normal

New parking lots west of Meyers Hall

Improve intersections at Normal and Henderson and Normal and Pacific

Temporary use of hospital-owned parking lot at West End Boulevard and Broadway

New parking on west lot of Parker Hall.

C. Signage, landscaping, atletics and recreation

Implement campus wide signage program

New information kiosks

Landscaping at Dempster and Scully Hall

New Athletic and Recreation Fields on north campus

Landscaping at science complex quad

New fountain on campus

New central quad east of Parker Hall

D. Housing

Build new housing at Wildwood

Renovate Wildwood as commons

Renovate two remaining towers

Renovate group housing and dining facilities.

Phase II -- years 10-15

A. Renovation, Demolition, New Construction

Phase II new facilities management building

Relocate departments out of Dearmont Hall

Houck Field House renovations

Renovate and update Scully Hall, Grauel Hall, Johnson Hall, Magill Hall, Rhodes Hall, Brandt Hall, Serena Hall, Kent Library and Memorial Hall

B. Parking, traffic and shuttle system

Adjust number of shuttle fleet vehicles and facilities based on student population

C. Signage, landscaping, athletics and recreation

Improve track complex on north campus

New band shell at outdoor amphitheater

Phase III -- years 15-20

A. Renovations, Demolition, New Construction

New building at science complex

New building with parking garage east of Kent Library

B. POarking, traffic and shuttle system

New parking garage at Towers Complex

New parking garage west of Show Me Center

C. Signage, landscaping, athletics and recreation

Renovate stadium

D. Housing

Phase II new student housing on north campus

The Board of Regents Friday tabled this proposed long-range plan for campus developments.