Crews begin work on MU engineering building

Major reconstruction is set to begin on the engineering building on the University of Missouri campus.

Part of Lafferre Hall was built in 1944 and the other in 1935.

The part built in 1935 will be the main area of renovation, and crews will begin demolition within the next month.

MU administrators said leaky roofs are just the beginning of the building’s structural issues.

Lawmakers and MU officials broke ground Monday for the latest project to renovate the building.

“It’s 2009 addition led to a whole new change in the way of teaching, interdisciplinary, and things of that sort. This is going to continue to aid and let that happen some more,” said Tom Lafferre, the building’s namesake.

Lafferre Hall is a conglomeration of buildings constructed throughout the last 120 years.

The 1935 and 1944 additions will be torn down to make way for a lab and study spaces, as well as conference rooms.

MU administrators call the upcoming renovation “student-centric.”

“They will have their own state-of-the-art study areas. We will have quite a bit of state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment. Basically, it brings this part of the building into the 21st century and hopefully for another 50 or 60 years we will have another viable building,” said Marty Walker with the College of Engineering.

Back in October, Governor Nixon toured the building and approved $38.5 million for the project.

The bond money comes from a bill passed by the state legislature, with the intent to renovate and repair public higher education buildings such as Lafferre Hall.

“We’re in here constantly, so it’s a great feeling knowing the place that you truly love is getting some tender loving care and being brought back to the state that you would like it,” said engineering student Lauren Wertz.

The process has already begun. All offices have been moved out of the area, and much of the lab and office equipment is in storage. Demolition of these two buildings begins in May.