MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) – If you are driving through the city of Morehead over the course of the next several months, you may see a few more cranes dotting the skyline.

This is as Morehead State University works on several campus revitalization projects with funds coming from the school itself, the Kentucky General Assembly, and alumni donors.

The revitalization efforts are highlighted by a $98 million science and engineering building which school President Dr. Jay Morgan said will be a cornerstone for the campus once it is completed.

But that’s not all as the school unveiled several other projects in late January:

• Renovation of the MSU Baseball Stadium. 
• Renovations to transition the Eagle Center tennis courts into an indoor turf facility by adding field turf, lighting, painting, graphics, and support equipment. 
• Replacement of the basketball court at the Academic-Athletic Center (AAC). 
• Renovations to the MSU Post Office and eSports Lounge in the Adron Doran University Center. 
• Renovations to the ground floor of Alumni Tower for new on-campus housing for students in the Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics. 
• Installation of new lockers and new seating in Duncan Recital Hall located in Baird Music Hall. 
• Improvements to stairs, windows, and flooring in Baird Music Hall, in consultation with staff in the building. 
• Multiple new roofs & HVAC Units 

Other projects planned in the future are improvements to the MSU Recruit Walk across campus, including new flower beds, concrete stairs, sidewalk repairs, and painting. 

Chief Facilities & Operations Officer Kim Oatman said with how much time students spend on campus, both living and learning, it’s time to better ensure that all facilities meet their needs not only in 2023 but beyond.

“The bulk of our job is keeping these spaces warm or cool and comfortable and creating good learning and living environments for the students,” Oatman explained. “So, at the end of the day, that’s what the students are going to recognize. They’ll recognize the environments are better.”

Oatman also noted that the enhancements to many of the buildings on campus will serve as preventative measures for future problems, such as weather, should they arise.

Although officials feel these projects will be great draws for prospective students, Dr. Morgan said current students are already excited about the future possibilities.

“As you go around campus, you will see some of the materials arriving to campus for these projects,” Morgan said. Students see that they become excited. We’ve tried to let our campus know and be very transparent where this money will be invested. And I think our students in many areas are smiling.”

The students and staff at MSU are not the only ones who will benefit however from these projects however, Dr. Morgan said the school has a very close relationship with the city of Morehead and Rowan County as a whole, which he feels will only be furthered by these projects.

“As you can see from driving around our campus, Main Street really meets the university very closely and in that, as our students not only cross our campus, but they’re also constantly going down the main street there in and out of local shops and businesses and we really feel like we have a community of one here in Morehead, Kentucky,” Morgan described.

Many of the projects, including the new science and engineering building, are still in the early development stages.