Northwest Foundation approves new Alumni Center

Architects' rendering of new Alumni Center

Plans for a new Northwest Missouri State University Alumni Center are moving forward following last week’s Northwest Foundation Board of Directors meeting.

Members of the Northwest Foundation Board, who were joined by members of the national Northwest Alumni Association Board of Directors, discussed plans and reviewed architectural renderings for the new center, to be constructed on the corner of College Avenue and North Munn Avenue.

In his opening remarks during the joint board meeting, Jim Blackford, a Maryville resident and president of the Northwest Foundation, reflected on the many defining moments in the Foundation’s history. In particular, Blackford cited the formation of the Foundation in 1971 by nine individuals who each contributed $1,000 to begin to establish a culture of philanthropic outreach for the support of Northwest, the acquisition of the current Alumni House in 1980 that established a “face” for the Foundation, and the completion of the first major capital campaign in 2006 where Northwest alumni and friends donated more than $43.5 million to provide funding for scholarships and additional needs throughout the campus community.

“I believe the decision that we make, as we consider this investment in our future, will likewise carry with it the title of a defining moment in the history of the Northwest Foundation and for the stakeholders for which we exist to support,” Blackford said. “We must identify and put in place the tools and processes that will produce a long-term funding stream to meet the anticipated need over a long-term time horizon. We are here because we all have a shared and vested interest in directing a positive outcome toward meeting our University’s resource need.”

By the conclusion of the meeting, the Foundation Board unanimously (with one abstention) approved the architectural plans for an 18,500 square-foot, two-story facility. The board also directed members of the facilities committee to proceed with final design, zoning and permitting, solicitation of contractor bids, site preparation and construction. In addition, it was agreed upon that the facilities committee will maintain dialogue and collaboration with area property owners on design considerations of mutual interest and will appoint an area property owner as an ex-officio member of the committee.

The new facility, which Foundation officials say is a priority due to significant growth in the form of rising levels of donor support and alumni involvement, will include offices, meeting rooms, a large conference room that can be divided into smaller rooms by movable walls as well as parking.

Greg Seifert, of Creal, Clark and Seifert Architects and Engineers in St. Joseph, has designed the new Alumni Center to be compatible with the architecture of the surrounding residential area and the Northwest campus facilities.

At its October 2007 meeting, the Foundation Board approved $4.9 million for the total Alumni Center project. The money will come from a $14.75 million bond issue the Northwest Foundation is putting together that also includes funds for the remodeling of the lower level of Valk Hall into offices and classrooms, a studio theatre addition to the Performing Arts Center and new lights and synthetic turf at Bearcat Stadium.

“Unless specified by the donor, funds donated to the Northwest Foundation by Northwest alumni and friends will not be used to fund this project,” said Orrie Covert, executive director of the Northwest Foundation. “It’s also important to note that the financing of the Alumni Center will not override University projects or take away from scholarships for Northwest students.”

According to Steve Sutton, director of alumni relations, before the project can move forward, final zoning and building permits must be acquired, construction bids must be let and a contractor will be hired for the design/bid/build process.

“The site preparation will not begin until we have approval from city officials,” Sutton said, “and if all goes as planned, the groundbreaking for the new facility could be in early summer and a grand opening could be in fall 2009.”

Sutton emphasized that the Foundation has no intention of getting rid of the current Alumni House, which will continue to be used for small gatherings.

For more information, please contact:

Mitzi Lutz, Advancement Communications Specialist
Office of University Advancement
Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Dr., Alumni House
Maryville, MO 64468

660.562.1248 (phone)
660.541.1401 (cell)
660.562.1990 (fax)

www.nwmissouri.edu/alumni

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