Allison contributes 7-figure donation toward Greenwood expansion

Philanthropist Bobby Allison on Friday pledged a seven-figure matching challenge donation to help Missouri State University complete a $6.4 million expansion and renovation of Greenwood Laboratory School.

Allison’s gift would affect phases II and III of the multiyear project. Officials broke ground Dec. 8 on Phase I, a $1.4 million plan to renovate the school’s locker rooms by July, according to a news release.

“Facilities do matter and we now have an opportunity to make them better,” said Janice Duncan, director of Greenwood Laboratory School, in the release.

In the $3 million Phase II, workers will build a new multifunction gym for the school. Phase III calls on $2 million worth of projects that would bring a new performance stage, atrium entry level and welcome center. The full renovation and expansion project is being built by Bales Construction Co. and designed by Butler, Rosenbury & Partners. A completion date has not yet been set, pending efforts to raise funding for the project, said MSU spokeswoman Emily Yeap.

Turning 110 years old next year, the K-12 Greenwood laboratory school has operated out of its 1024 E. Harrison St. building on the MSU campus for 50 years.

Greenwood functions through MSU’s College of Education. Students in the college engage with children and faculty in clinical field experiences, experimentation, research and information sharing, according to the release.