Groundbreaking For New Building At College Slated For May 4
(Press Release 05-01-07)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Oklahoma Chancellor of Higher Education Dr. Glen D. Johnson is slated to lead the groundbreaking for the first new building on the Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton campus in more than 40 years before addressing spring commencement exercises 6:30 p.m. Friday (May 4) in the field house.

Before commencement, the Chancellor, Eastern Regents, legislators and local officials will participate in groundbreaking ceremonies at 3 p.m. for the new $7.1 million Student Life and Learning Center to be built in the center of the Wilburton campus.

Opening for the 36,500 square-foot facility is slated for fall 2008. Financing for the facility is part of the 2005 state higher education bond issue.

The two-story building will be the first building constructed on the Wilburton campus since Sullivan Hall was built in 1968 as the science building. Eastern has constructed two buildings on the McAlester campus in the last few years but no major construction has occurred on the Wilburton campus in 40 years.

The Student Life and Learning Center hosts a number of facilities including a cyber café, expanded book store, student lounge and cafeteria, a ballroom, class rooms and counseling center, student senate offices and meeting room and Dean of Student’s office.

Ballroom facilities will be equipped with a mini kitchen for servicing the area when converted into a dining room. The area will be 30 percent larger than the current facilities and can be divided into three separate areas to accommodate multiple activities.

Student Senate offices and meeting room will also be on the second floor along with other offices and counselors.

The building will be located on what is now the main parking lot in the center of campus and elevated almost six feet above the current parking grade. When construction begins in June, most of what is now the campus central area south of the plaza clock tower area will be fenced off and closed for the construction.