Truman State University’s completion deadline for the reconstruction and remodeling of the Kirk Building has been pushed back, with the new opening date projected to be closer to mid to late February.
The initial plan for the Kirk Building construction was that it would be completed by the end of December 2024. While the construction delays were an unforeseen issue that caused the projected construction completion to be pushed back, this new deadline will not affect departments such as the Career Center, Writing Center and Student Access and Disability Services from being moved in and settled in their new offices by the end of Spring Break.
Lori Shook, the design project manager of the Campus Planning Office, works directly with the architects and engineers on the renovation and oversees what occurs during the construction process. She said when dealing with a renovation of an older building, there are issues that are bound to pop up, as well as plans that need to be added or changed along the way. However, many of the campus departments that were scheduled to be moved to Kirk weren’t in a rush to move.
“It wound up that no one really wanted to move right away, which worked out for the best given the construction,” Shook said.
These departments will not be uprooted during upcoming important campus events, such as student registration for the fall semester. One such department is the Career Center.
Joel Brumfield, the career services coordinator and trainer, said since the Career Center’s designated time to move in was always scheduled to be over Spring Break, the delay in construction hasn’t affected the workflow of his office, nor the flow of the students that work at the Career Center or use the Center’s many services.
“I think we’re prepared to continue our services throughout [the move],” Brumfield said. “I think we have a really great student-worker staff who is prepared, well-trained and very equipped to handle the move. Moves, no matter what, are going to be big. I’m sure things will pop up, but we’ll roll with the punches.”
The Kirk Building has been under construction since early February 2023, marking nearly two years since the project started. The original deadline for December 2024 was put into place almost a year prior, during the fall of 2023.
While the construction within the building is projected to be completed during February, there will still be outside construction left to be done, such as repaving the roads outside the Kirk Building for ease of access for students and staff. Nevertheless, the Student Access and Disability Services, Career Center, Advising, Writing Center, Student Health Center and Counseling Services should all be moved into their new offices by the time University students return from Spring Break.