MU continues to play catch-up in building renovations. In recent years, a lot has been completed, such as Mark Twain Hall, Gwynn Hall, Memorial Stadium Press Box and phase 1 of the East Campus Chiller Plant. And currently about a dozen projects are underway, including the $22.3 million Renew Mizzou project that encompasses Jesse, Swallow and Pickard halls.
Tens of millions of dollars go into these building projects. So it was welcome news Oct. 16 when the Missouri Board of Public Buildings approved $38.5 million in bonding to fix Lafferre Hall, one of more than 25 education and general buildings on campus in need of renovations, according to the 2014 Campus Master Plan.
Lafferre Hall is used by the College of Engineering. It’s in such bad shape that the second floor is bifurcated, meaning someone on the east side can’t get to the west side, and vice versa, without using stairs from the first floor.
On the approving board were Gov. Jay Nixon, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and Attorney General Chris Koster.
Lafferre Hall is more than 120 years old.