MSU officials say new MDAB facility brings music and business programs into 21st century

With saws buzzing, the hiss and sizzle of welding and all manner of vehicles rumbling and beeping, the campus of Morehead State University has been noisy – and will be for some time yet – as crews work to construct the still unnamed building that aims to support and house music and business programs comfortably for the next 40 to 60 years. MSU President Jay Morgan said a lot went into the decision-making process, but it came down to need.

“We kind of determined we can’t go in and renovate Baird again and do anything to make it look like what you would want a music building to look like. We couldn’t go to Combs to make it look like a 21^st century business building,” Morgan said.

Morgan joked with Faculty Regent and Music Professor DuWayne Dale, that a new music hall has been talked about since the late 90’s. Dale said he is glad the project to replace Baird has finally come to fruition.

“It served its purpose over the years. There have been a lot of successful musicians come out of there and music teachers to come out of there. But this building brings us into – honestly, it brings us into the 21^st century,” Dale said. “We were quite a far distance from that to begin with in terms of modern sound acoustics and modern technologies in a lot of the classrooms.”

Dale said it had to be MDAB instead of two separate buildings, to maximize efficient use of available space on campus and to secure state funding.

“That’s how you get the approval from the legislature, it’s the packaging. We are getting rid of two old buildings for one new building,” Dale said.

Dale and five other professors from Baird got to help in the design of the music side of the buildings. The first floor is a walk-in basement with offices, practice rooms, and bigger studio rooms. The second and third floors are for larger classrooms.

Joe Parson is the Project manager for Rising Sun Development and over sees the day-to-day construction. He said the biggest feature is a 630-seat auditorium to replace Baird’s Duncan Recital Hall.

“I think it is really going to be nice when it is all done and the catwalks and our spiral stairs are in; I think it is going to be state of the art for the region,” Parson said.

Kim Oatman, Chief Facilities & Operations Officer, said the project is taking all the necessary steps now to keep MSU completive far into the future. He said one of these steps is using geothermal wells to help keep the MDAB cool.

“That’s why we are doing it. We want to save on our operational costs. So, yes, we want to be completive in that respect, because the lower we can keep operational costs the lower we can keep tuition,” Oatman said.

Oatman said the exterior facades of the two sides of the building will look different but fit a similar red brick theme of ADUC and the new science and engineering building.

On the business side of the building, the first two floors are littered with community spaces, conference rooms for student use, and many different sized classrooms; some rated for up to 80 students. The 3^rd floor of the stack hosts faculty offices, bathrooms, and breakrooms.

The MDAB is just part of the MSU reconstruction campaign officials are pushing, slowly but surely, reimagining campus. Officials said the lot where Baird sits now and part of the Burt Combs lot will eventually be made into green spaces for students to enjoy.

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