Spring Break
Talks begin for future MU Annex
Plans for new building that would house ASOSU, student media are in feasibility phase
Nick Vardanega
Issue date: 7/4/07 Section: News
Planning is in its early stages for a new building called the MU Annex to house the student organizations that currently occupy MU East in Snell Hall.
MU Director Mike Henthorne said that the project has not been approved yet, but the plan is to build the annex where the pay parking lot is located, next to the bookstore.
The new building would house ASOSU, Student Media - including the Barometer, KBVR-TV and KBVR FM - and Student Involvement.
"It's been in the works for a couple of years [to] develop a future for Snell Hall,"Henthorne said. "It's been discussed by the MU Board for at least three years, this is the first year we've taken action."
Snell Hall, one of the older buildings on campus has fallen into disrepair and is viewed as a building that can no longer be invested in long term.
Henthorne said that the Craft Center is the only thing that would not be moved out of Snell. He also said he didn't know if the university planned to demolish the building once the other organizations were gone.
Planning for the MU Annex is now in the feasibility stage. Opsis Arcitechs of Portland, the arcitechure firm that will build the Annex is looking at the space available to determine what size the building can be.
In addition they are also conducting focus groups of stake holders, meaning people in student organizations that would use the new building.
"They're meeting with various constituents from Student Media and ASOSU, to assess potential needs of tenants," Henthorne said.
He said the location of the annex is important because it would keep those tenants centrally located on campus.
"It's viable and keeps [those organizations] in the last center core site," Henthorne said, pointing out that many students are in an out of their offices inbetween classes and that having a building on the outskirts of campus would not be viable.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed by October of this year. If it is deemed feasible the project will then go to the Campus Planning Committee. If the Committee approves the plans, then it will be put to a student vote.
Henthorne expects this to be a long term porject and said that they won't actually break ground for four to five years.
Construction would be paid for by student building fees.
MU Director Mike Henthorne said that the project has not been approved yet, but the plan is to build the annex where the pay parking lot is located, next to the bookstore.
The new building would house ASOSU, Student Media - including the Barometer, KBVR-TV and KBVR FM - and Student Involvement.
"It's been in the works for a couple of years [to] develop a future for Snell Hall,"Henthorne said. "It's been discussed by the MU Board for at least three years, this is the first year we've taken action."
Snell Hall, one of the older buildings on campus has fallen into disrepair and is viewed as a building that can no longer be invested in long term.
Henthorne said that the Craft Center is the only thing that would not be moved out of Snell. He also said he didn't know if the university planned to demolish the building once the other organizations were gone.
Planning for the MU Annex is now in the feasibility stage. Opsis Arcitechs of Portland, the arcitechure firm that will build the Annex is looking at the space available to determine what size the building can be.
In addition they are also conducting focus groups of stake holders, meaning people in student organizations that would use the new building.
"They're meeting with various constituents from Student Media and ASOSU, to assess potential needs of tenants," Henthorne said.
He said the location of the annex is important because it would keep those tenants centrally located on campus.
"It's viable and keeps [those organizations] in the last center core site," Henthorne said, pointing out that many students are in an out of their offices inbetween classes and that having a building on the outskirts of campus would not be viable.
The feasibility study is expected to be completed by October of this year. If it is deemed feasible the project will then go to the Campus Planning Committee. If the Committee approves the plans, then it will be put to a student vote.
Henthorne expects this to be a long term porject and said that they won't actually break ground for four to five years.
Construction would be paid for by student building fees.
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