Terrace Hall will not be torn down until the fundraising goal of $20 million is met for the new College of Business Administration building, as a part of Kent State’s 10-year Gateway Master Plan.

President Todd Diacon set a goal of $20 million to raise for the new business building before construction can move forward for this nearly $74 million business administration building project, said Joseph Graham, the interim executive director of the office of the University Architect.

The business building currently has $10 million already raised with $10 million more to raise before they can start the demolition of Terrace Hall.  

“Out of all the projects in the fundraising phase, the business building is the biggest,” Graham said. 

The three-phase master plan started in the spring of 2018. The first phase was scheduled for 2018-2020, but due to the pandemic, phase one is still being completed.

Phase one includes:

• New College of Business Administration Building
• Interdisciplinary Studios, Innovation Zone and Retail Phase 1 (on hold)
• Innovation Hub and Dining (complete)
• Teaching and Learning Enhancements
• Aeronautics and Technology Building Addition
• New KSU Airport Classroom Building (complete)
• Rockwell Hall Addition and Renovations (fashion)
• White Hall Renovations Phase 1 (education)
• Research Expansion
• Integrated Sciences Building Lower Level Phase (complete)
• Parking Deck (cancelled)

“When you are raising money for such a transformational project, it’s not about getting money from the donor,” said Michael Pasquarella, the associate vice president of philanthropy. “It’s about co-creating a gift opportunity that is meaningful for them, and sometimes that takes time.” 

A $29 million parking deck was planned to accompany the new business building on the front campus, but it was put on hold when the pandemic started.

“The university was certainly just looking at all of its expenses,” Graham said. “Obviously, revenues were being interrupted as we moved online and things were very uncertain.” 

As last summer approached, the university revisited the parking deck plans and questioned if it was the right decision.

“Did we really want to spend $29 million on a parking deck?” Graham said. “Versus, is there a better or higher use for that money?”

Looking at the future of the Gateway Master Plan without the parking deck would result in a loss of less than 200 parking spaces, which is less than 3% of the university’s parking.

Graham said that instead of spending $29 million on a parking deck, the university would reallocate the money to the Aeronautics and Engineering building addition, the new College of Business Administration building, the Ice Arena and the Marching Band Education facility.

The Aeronautics and Engineering building addition is in its design phase with construction expected to start later this year and open spring 2023.

White Hall’s renovation for its HVAC system is also in its design phase. Construction is expected to start by the end of the calendar year, which will run through the summer of 2024.   

Liam Morrison is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected]