SMSU named Developer of the Year

The Springfield Contractors Association named Southwest Missouri State University the 2000 Developer of the Year at the annual Salute to Design |amp| Construction awards banquet Nov. 2.

It is the second time SMSU has received the title in the award's 16-year history.

According to SMSU President John Keiser, the university has signed 129 construction contracts in the last 16 months for a total of $41.4 million.

Those numbers separated them from the competition, said SCA Executive Director Sheryl Letterman.

"This year it would have to be the total volume of work," she said. "We look at the total projects and process of the projects. The last 16-18 months have represented a growth spurt for the university."

Letterman said the decision is made by a vote of the SCA committee members and their chair, Kris Evans. The committee takes into consideration a number of factors, including total dollar amount, use of local workers, amount, quality and economic impact of the development, and contributions to the community.

Kent Thomas, vice president for administrative services at SMSU, said that the number of contracts awarded locally was a significant factor.

"It brings a lot of business to the Springfield community. Ninety-one percent of construction business is done by southwest Missouri contractors, architects and engineers," Thomas said, referring to the university's 117 local contracts.

Keiser has spent more than $120 million for physical construction and development in his seven years with SMSU, and said that the remaining 12 contracts were for services not offered in the area.

The largest project is the new $28 million Meyer Library addition. Also included in the 129 contracts are the remodeling of the Sigma Nu house into Scholars Hall for Honors College housing, the resurfacing of the playing field of Plaster Sports Complex, two additional parking lots, the $10 million renovation of Wells House and utility tunnel work under Plaster.

Thomas said that SMSU plans to do a large number of renovations next year. Among them are Siceluff Hall, Temple Hall, Pummill Hall, University Hall, the fourth floor of Hill Hall, parts of Cheek Hall, the downtown Morris Center for continuing education, the Kings Street annex, the Agricultural Arena on Kansas Expressway, and the remaining $4 million to $5 million of tunnel work known as the Utility Distribution Repair Project.