Pittsburg State University took another step forward Tuesday for the relocation of their business school to downtown Pittsburg.
KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
The current home of PSU’s business school, also known as the Kelece College of Business was built in 1950 as a laboratory high school and converted for the college’s use in the mid-1970s.
University officials have dubbed the multi-million dollar project ‘Gorilla Rising’ that will expand Pittsburg State’s footprint in the Block 22 neighborhood of downtown Pittsburg. PSU’s Vice President of Administration Doug Ball held a presentation for the Pittsburg City Commission on Tuesday saying that the total project would cost an estimated 51.2 million dollars.
Ball also spoke about the need for the relocation and redevelopment of downtown.
“The College of Business has served us well for a very long time but is not in a condition today to continue serving us well into the future. It’s a dated building that really just doesn’t have the size and type of spaces that are necessary to conduct the college of business in today’s world.”
The five city commissioners voted unanimously to enter into a ten million fifty thousand dollar funding agreement with Pittsburg State. In addition to the appropriation from the city, 'Gorilla Rising' is being funded with a trio of state dollars, charitable donations, and tax credits. Construction is forecast to be completed in the summer or fall of 2026.
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