Home » EKU president shares ambitious vision for university at public forum

EKU president shares ambitious vision for university at public forum

Richmond, Ky. – It is clear that Eastern Kentucky University is the midst of a radical transformation not seen since the Robert R. Martin administration of 1960-76. EKU President Michael Benson shared his ambitious vision for the university at a public forum on June 30.

Benson outlined a number of EKU revitalization projects, including two student-centric facilities: a new recreation center and a renovated student union.

Benson discussed numerous other revitalization projects, both ongoing and planned, showing the audience photos and renderings of many. They include:
  • phase 2 of the New Science Building, under construction and expected to open by late 2017. When merged with Phase 1, the 340,000-square-foot facility will be the largest of its type in the Commonwealth.
  • the planned new Model Laboratory School/College of Education complex, to be constructed at the corner of Lancaster Avenue and the Eastern By-Pass.
  • three new, suite-style residence halls to replace three halls dating to the 1960s: Martin, Dupree and Todd. Martin may be razed as soon as Spring 2016, with the replacement of Dupree and Todd coming at a later time to be determined and with input from the Greek community that now occupies those two halls. University officials have said that, during the replacement process, every effort will be made to minimize the impact on all affected students.
  • a wellness center/indoor practice facility.
  • a new, multi-purpose facility to replace the east side grandstands at Roy Kidd Stadium, to be completed by Fall 2016. The stands have already been dismantled and removed.
  • a new alumni and welcome center.
  • a reading porch on the south side of John Grant Crabbe Main Library, to be completed this summer, overlooking a new pedestrian mall in a formerly lackluster industrial space.
  • new playing facilities for the baseball and softball teams.
  • a new pedestrian gateway and the Carloftis Gardens, both near the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Barnes Mill Road.
  • improvements to the newly revamped University Club at Arlington.
  • new signage throughout campus.
Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas and Company, an architecture and planning firm that has worked with more than 145 colleges and universities nationwide, is assisting EKU with its master plan. Open forums will be scheduled in the fall to solicit campus input. “This is all very fluid,” Benson said.
Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas and Company, an architecture and planning firm that has worked with more than 145 colleges and universities nationwide, is assisting EKU with its master plan. Open forums will be scheduled in the fall to solicit campus input.
To view the entire forum, visit ow.ly/P3rbG.