Missouri Western’s Centennial Capital Campaign kicked off in January 2015 with a $20 million initial celebration goal and three campaign goals: investment in campus facilities, investment in Missouri Western’s endowment and investment in academic and co-curricular programming.

“Our centennial year offers us a unique opportunity to reflect with pride on all that the University has accomplished, and to plan with anticipation the next 100 years,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “The Centennial Capital Campaign is an important part of that planning for the future.”

To date, the campaign has raised $17.2 million, including a $10 million pledge for the Missouri Western Foundation’s general endowment from an alumnus who lives in St. Joseph and wishes to remain anonymous.

Potter Hall and Spratt Memorial Stadium are the two of the signature facility projects of the Centennial Capital Campaign.

Potter Hall

The University’s strategic plan and campus master plan identified Potter Hall renovations as a critical need for the University because of its crowded conditions and age of the building. Renovations to Potter Hall have been identified as a funding priority at the state level for almost 20 years.

Needs for the facility include a large performance hall, additional classroom space, larger gallery space and additional natural light studios. Additionally, the facility needs upgrades to its HVAC and other systems to ensure Potter Hall’s structural integrity for years to come.

Last year, University reserves funded a circle drive, additional restrooms and a percussion room in Potter Hall.

“There is much work still to do, and Missouri Western is committed to improving the facilities for our students in the arts and for our region,” said Dr. Robert Willenbrink, founding dean of the School of Fine Arts.

One of the largest components of the proposed Potter Hall renovations is the performance hall. Currently, the Potter Hall theater seats 430 and is used for both music and theatre performances.  Often, Missouri Western musical ensembles are required to hold concerts off campus because of lack of available space.

“We envision creating the region’s leading performance center,” said Dr. Vartabedian. “This performance space will help Missouri Western recruit the best and brightest students and serve as the region’s leading performing arts center, further integrating the University with the regional arts community.”

As part of the master planning process, peer universities in the region were benchmarked for performance facilities. Missouri Western’s competitors typically provide three performance venues on campus, including one large facility seating of more than 1,000, one medium venue seating around 400 and at least one small venue between 100-250 seats. Missouri Western is the only university of the 10 compared universities to lack a large performance hall. Missouri Western also provides the lowest number of total performance seating per student enrollment than any of the benchmark universities.

Another priority of the Potter Hall project is increased gallery space. Internationally known local sculptor Brent Collins recently notified the Foundation that his lifetime of work will be on permanent loan to Missouri Western, amplifying the need for a lobby and gallery space to accommodate his collection, creating a point of pride for the region.

Graphic design classroom space is also a critical need for Potter Hall, said Dr. Willenbrink. Currently, a graphic design lab is located in a hallway.

“The arts are flourishing at Missouri Western,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “The Centennial Capital Campaign aims to address as many facility needs as possible in order to prepare the University for continued growth in the arts in the future.”

Spratt Memorial Stadium

Athletics director Kurt McGuffin believes the renovation of Spratt Memorial Stadium will help create a great fan experience, be an effective recruiting tool and put the stadium at the top of the University’s athletic conference. “Everyone will benefit,” he says.

The first phase of the project began last month. That work includes new turf for the field; removing the track that currently surrounds the field; moving the visitor side bleachers closer to the field; installing a large, new video board and replacing the seating on the home side.

McGuffin said bringing fans closer to the field, along with the video board, will take the Griffon fan experience to a new level.

Phase II work, scheduled for completion in 2016, includes a three-story addition to the stadium. The first floor will feature a new concourse area with a ticket office, team store, two concession stands and larger restrooms. The new Stadium Club, which will be two to three times larger than the current space, will also be on the first floor.

The second floor will house individual suites, and McGuffin said he had verbal commitments for several. All will contain both indoor and outdoor seating and a serving area.

The second floor will also feature restrooms and a full kitchen, and a hall of fame room that will seat 175 for a meal. This room will be available for community rentals.

The third level will include a control room for the video board, a coaches’ suite and a press box.

McGuffin noted that the master planning consultants identified the renovation of the stadium as an urgent need. In November 2014, the Board of Governors approved a statement of intent to proceed with a $5.5 million auxiliary system revenue bond issue to pay for improvements to the stadium. McGuffin said he is hoping private donations designated for the stadium will allow the University to pay off the bonds early.

“We’ve had some great gifts,” he said. “I’m really proud of that.”