With numerous construction projects underway at the University of Mississippi, facility planners and students alike are looking forward to what is in store for the 2024 fall semester.
Some students have come to view construction as a new norm.
“In a way, it’s a good thing that we have the construction because it’s a positive sign of growth that people want to come to the university,” sophomore history major Nina Poiroux said. “We see that with the increasing student population the campus is going to have to expand even if it means we live with construction projects for a short time. The complaints about construction are really just growing pains that we have to deal with in order to keep the university beautiful and welcoming for students.”
Among the bigger construction projects is the demolition of Kincannon Hall to make way for three residential dorms.
The construction and replacement of Kincannon Hall have been underway since last summer. Demolition of the dormitory, which had been abandoned since 2015, began in August 2023. Since completion of the demolition in Dec. 2023, students have awaited news of the project’s continuation.
During a Jan. 18 Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning meeting, the Board of Trustees approved a budget of $165 million for new student housing.
Chad Hunter, director of facilities planning and university architect, explained that although demolition of Kincannon Hall took longer than expected, the project is on schedule.
“The plan all along was to take advantage of summer months for both demolition and construction,” Hunter said. “Due to complexities within the Kincannon structure, it didn’t come down as fast as we had planned, but we were still able to finish demolition on time. We wanted to get it done by summer 2023, but construction of the new dorms was never intended to be that summer; it was always intended to be this upcoming summer 2024.”
Hunter said construction on the three-building dormitory project to replace Kincannon Hall is to begin August 2024 and to be completed in summer 2026.
“That project will be three new housing buildings varying in levels because of the topography of the site,” Hunter said. “The intent is to have a variation of different room styles and a lot of student spaces within the buildings as well as a community space similar to the one surrounded by Minor Hall, RH2 and RH3.”
The January 2024 Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees Board Book also outlined plans for a new parking garage to accommodate the increased on-campus student population that will result from construction of the three new dormitories.
The project, which was allotted $50 million from the IHL, will add 1,331 parking spaces in a new parking garage located immediately west of the existing Residential Parking Garage adjacent to Kinard Hall.
Construction of the new parking structure is scheduled to begin in fall 2024 and coincide with the construction of the new dormitories. The project has an expected completion of summer 2026.
Another ongoing major project is the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology on All American Drive. Construction on the 202,000 square feet project began in fall 2021 with a budget of $175 million dollars.
Construction is set to be completed this summer with an anticipated opening in the fall 2024 semester. Classes that will be held in the new Duff Center, labeled CSTI in MyOleMiss, are already listed on the website for student registration.
“I think a lot of the current STEM buildings like Coulter and Shoemaker have been in need of renovation,” Maylen Janovich, a sophomore psychology major, said. “I’m really excited to take classes in the Duff Center since I see it as the university investing in their STEM students. If you can walk into a new building to take a class, I think it motivates you to want to succeed.”
A sign meant to welcome students and visitors onto campus at the intersection of University Avenue and Grove Loop will be unveiled May 3 with a dedication on May 14, according to Jacob Batte, director of news and media relations for the university.
Construction of a renovated softball complex is also underway. Demolition of the existing complex began in November 2023. The project, part of the university’s broader CHAMPIONS. NOW. campaign, has a budget of $30 million and is expected to be completed sometime next season.
“This is a multi-stage project that we are working on around the softball season,” Hunter said. “They’re currently using the field for play, but the rest of the project — such as seating, concession stands, etc. — will be next season.”
Multi-stage renovations to the University Data Center on Guyton Drive are set to be completed in 2027. A 20,000 square foot addition of a loading dock and storage area will precede renovations to the existing 13,000-square-foot structure.
While academic and administrative buildings are undergoing renovations, Greek houses are also receiving significant upgrades in the coming months.
The Kappa Alpha Order fraternity is building a new house across from its current location on Rebel Drive. The new facility is expected to be completed in 2025.
“I’m excited for the new house since the one we are in now has been the KA house for a very long time,” Quintin Hunter, a sophomore political science major and member of Kappa Alpha Order, said. “The new KA house is supposed to be the biggest fraternity house at Ole Miss. I hope it’s built before I graduate, but even if it’s not, it will be great for people joining in the future.”
Once construction of the new Kappa Alpha house is complete, the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity will move into the existing Kappa Alpha house.
The Alpha Omicron Pi and Alpha Chi Omega sororities are also planning renovations to their houses. The timeline for the rebuilds are still being considered by the Fraternity and Sorority Facilities Committee.
“We’ve waited a long time for (the new house),” Janet Colomani, a sophomore integrated marketing major and Alpha Omicron Pi member, said. “I don’t know yet what the inside is going to look like, but I know there will be more room and the outside is going to give it a newer look, which is exciting.”
The Alpha Phi and Alpha Delta Pi sororities are also working on additions to their existing houses. According to Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Jess Turac, these houses will finish their renovations in early 2025.
Furthermore, Turuc shared that plans are being considered to renovate the Beta Theta Pi and Phi Delta Theta fraternity houses, but those projects are in the early phases with no set start date.
“These renovations and projects are exciting for the fraternity and sorority community as we continue to see growth in fraternity and sorority membership on our campus,” Turuc said.
The university is in a constant growth state at the moment, and it seems as though the ongoing and future construction projects reflect so.
“It is an exciting time at the (university) with unprecedented student growth and campus development,” Chad Hunter said. “We are happy to be completing construction on several projects soon and beginning even more projects to support student academics and enhance the campus experience.”
