Kemper Hall, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, September 24, 2025
News Summary
Missouri State University will open a new Construction Education Success Center at Kemper Hall, a 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation for the School of Construction, Design and Project Management. Funded by the MoExcels Workforce Initiative and private gifts, the $9.6 million center expands hands-on construction training and connects students with local employers. The opening comes amid the university’s largest period of campus construction in decades — nearly $250 million in projects across campus — including major renovations and new facilities that are reshaping the campus landscape and academic capacity.
Missouri State to open new Construction Education Success Center as campus handles nearly $250 million in work
A new Construction Education Success Center at Missouri State’s Kemper Hall will be open to the public during a grand opening ceremony. The celebration is set for 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29. The event location: Kemper Hall, 921 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, in the high-bay training lab. The project is a 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation to the university’s School of Construction, Design and Project Management. The project cost was $9.6 million. Funding for the project came through the MoExcels Workforce Initiative and private gifts. The industry-focused space will expand access to specialized training within the construction management program.
Why the center matters now
Missouri State is experiencing its most intense and expensive period of construction activity in decades. Mark Wheeler, university architect and director of planning, design and construction, said the university has almost $250 million worth of construction projects underway. Most work is spread across the main Springfield campus, with the most visible projects concentrated along Grand Street and National Avenue. University planners expect a busy construction timeline that will continue through next summer, with many major projects scheduled to wrap up in fall 2026.
Major projects on campus
The Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center is a $26.2 million project. It is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The building sits adjacent to the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center and will house university advancement and the Missouri State University Foundation. Excavation is complete, the slab is ready to be poured, and steel erection will begin this fall as the project moves into a heavy construction phase.
The Art Annex has been demolished to make way for the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex. The larger performing arts effort is part of a multi-piece plan that includes public-facing changes to the Grand Street entrance, such as a new plaza area to improve how visitors see and move through that entry. The $96.4 million project includes constructing a 66,500-square-foot addition to the building formerly called Temple Hall and renovating the existing building. The scheduled completion date for that project is June 2026. Work on the addition is well underway, with some labs already in use and commissioning of systems under way; renovation of the original building will continue through the next year.
A $16.9 million project to renovate part of Cheek Hall was recently started. The renovation will establish the Center for Transformational Education for Life, Physical, and Health Sciences in Cheek Hall. About 43,400 square feet of space will be improved in the coming year as part of this work. A construction fence at the north entry will remain in place for roughly a year while crews work on deferred maintenance, improved functionality, and expanded academic capacity in areas such as computer science, software development, and data science.
Other campus work and planning
Across campus there are numerous other projects of varying sizes. At times this spring and summer the campus had well over 180 active projects. Planners are finalizing a draft Facilities Master Plan that splits projects into near-term (next five years), proposed (five to 10 years), and long-range (10 to 25 years) categories. Many planned projects are not fully funded and remain at preliminary stages.
Officials are also working on preservation and upgrades for older buildings. Missouri State wants to preserve and upgrade McDonald Hall and Arena, a structure built in 1940 with strong community support. The building currently houses classrooms, offices, fitness and recreation spaces, and other uses and is seen by university leaders as structurally solid and ready for future planning once nearby projects finish in 2026.
Other work includes moving safety offices and the Springfield police substation into University Hall to improve response times and free the current off-Cherry Street building for additional parking, and early-phase upgrades at Plaster Stadium tied to the university’s athletic conference move.
Timeline and impact
University leaders say weather and storm-related tree damage have had minimal impact on project schedules so far, and planners expect to make up time in the construction calendar where needed. The busiest period of building and renovation is expected to continue into next year and through fall 2026, leaving campus significantly changed in visible ways by the time major projects finish.
How the Construction Education Success Center fits into the bigger picture
The new center is part of a broader push to align campus facilities with workforce needs and academic programs. By adding the 10,000-square-foot training lab and renovated classrooms, the university aims to connect students with employers and give them hands-on, industry-focused experience. The center’s opening on Sept. 29 will be a public milestone in a multi-year building surge across campus.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is opening and when?
A: A new Construction Education Success Center at Missouri State’s Kemper Hall will be open to the public during a grand opening ceremony.
Q: When is the celebration?
A: The celebration is set for 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29.
Q: Where will the event be held?
A: The event location: Kemper Hall, 921 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, in the high-bay training lab.
Q: How big is the project and how much did it cost?
A: The project is a 10,000-square-foot addition and renovation to the university’s School of Construction, Design and Project Management. The project cost was $9.6 million.
Q: How was the center funded?
A: Funding for the project came through the MoExcels Workforce Initiative and private gifts.
Q: What will the space provide to students?
A: The industry-focused space will expand access to specialized training within the construction management program.
Q: How much construction is underway at the university?
A: Mark Wheeler, university architect and director of planning, design and construction, said the university has almost $250 million worth of construction projects underway.
Q: What other large projects are happening?
A: The Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center is a $26.2 million project. It is scheduled to open in fall 2026. The Art Annex has been demolished to make way for the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex. The $96.4 million project includes constructing a 66,500-square-foot addition to the building formerly called Temple Hall and renovating the existing building. The scheduled completion date for that project is June 2026. A $16.9 million project to renovate part of Cheek Hall was recently started. About 43,400 square feet of space will be improved in the coming year as part of this work.
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Key project features at a glance
| Project | Size / Cost | Timeline / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Education Success Center at Kemper Hall | 10,000-square-foot; $9.6 million | Grand opening 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29; funded by MoExcels Workforce Initiative and private gifts |
| Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center | $26.2 million | Scheduled to open in fall 2026; adjacent to Davis-Harrington Welcome Center |
| Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex | $96.4 million; 66,500-square-foot addition | Art Annex demolished to make way; scheduled completion June 2026 |
| Cheek Hall renovation | $16.9 million; 43,400 sq ft improved | Work recently started; north entry construction fence for about one year |
| Overall campus work | Almost $250 million in projects underway | Most work on main Springfield campus; many projects through fall 2026 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- News-Leader: MSU to open Construction Education Success Center
- Wikipedia: Missouri State University
- Missouri Independent: Missouri House committee approves $4 billion for state construction projects
- Google Search: Missouri construction budget 2025
- News-Leader: Missouri State ongoing construction and renovation projects
- Google Scholar: Missouri State University construction projects
- KY3: Ongoing construction sparks creative Tent Theatre at Missouri State
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Missouri State University
- News-Leader: Missouri State University facilities master plan — seven big changes
- Google News: Missouri State University construction projects
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