College of the Ozarks announces plans for two building projects

Officials at College of the Ozarks will break ground in May for the redesign and restoration of two buildings on its campus in Point Lookout.

Butler Rosenbury & Partners is architect for the projects.

According to an announcement from the school, one of the buildings will be used for music and the other for campus ministries. Both projects are made possible by funding from Leonard and Edith Gittinger.

The music center

The first project will be the Edith Gittinger Music Center. The music department now has an average of 40 music majors who study in the existing 8,000-square-foot music building. The new building will cover 20,000 square feet.

There will be a recital hall and classrooms in the Edith Gittinger Music Center.

With the new building, the school hopes to bring the average number of music majors closer to 60. Construction of this building will begin first, and the campus ministries building will follow.

Campus ministries building

The campus ministry building will be called the Leonard B. Gittinger Campus Ministries Center.

It will be built around the existing Thompson Music Building. The new campus ministry building will provide much-needed room for the department's five-member staff. It will have offices, a missions development center a circular prayer chapel and a student center. The student center will have a fireplace, as well as sofas and chairs where students can relax.