Construction Begun On Student Center
(Press Release 05-02-08)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

After a number of delays and almost a full year since ground was broken on the new Student Center for Eastern Oklahoma State College, construction crews arrived on the Wilburton campus Wednesday (April 30) to begin ground work for the first new building on the campus in more than 40 years.

Biding cost over-runs have delayed construction on the $7.2 million building which was originally slated for opening during the fall of 2008.

Eastern President Dr. Steve Smith says completion should be in about a year.

“We have had to return to the architectural drawing boards and trim some items from the building to bring it within budget,” Smith said.

“The cost of steel, concrete and time delays required that we cut from the original design somewhat.

“The building went out for bid several times and not many local construction companies bid. We changed the construction schedule from the original 10 month schedule to a 12 month schedule which helped contractors,” he said.

The 31,000 square-foot facility is financed as 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 construction other than an addition to the administration building and the clock tower has occurred on the Wilburton campus in 40 years.

The Student Life and Learning Center originally hosted 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 were designed 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 was originally to 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. However, according to project director Rudy O’Donley that has now been changed.

“This was one of the first things that we had to change to bring the building into budget,” O’Donley said.

“The north end of the new building will now be positioned at what is the south side of the current parking lot centered in that area and at ground level.

“An amphitheatre area and the north building entry will now actually sit on the parking lot,” he said. 

This artist's drawing shows what the new Student Life and Learning Center on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College will look like. Construction for the new building began Wednesday (April 30).

Construction workers began site preparation Wednesday (April 30) for construction of the new Student Life and Learning Center on the Wilburton campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College.