MGA’s Capital Projects Carry On, Enhancing Campuses & Academic Programs

Author: News Bureau
Posted: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 12:00 AM
Categories: School of Arts and Letters | School of Health and Natural Sciences | Faculty/Staff | Students | School of Computing | School of Aviation | Pressroom

Cochran, GA

The new nursing lab at Dillard Hall on MGA's Cochran Campus. See photos of more building and renovation projects on MGA campuses at https://bit.ly/2S61HRt.

Even during the pandemic, Middle Georgia State University continued work on several capital projects that are either now completed or well underway. In addition, a generous donation from the Charles H. Jones Foundation allowed MGA to purchase new aircraft for the aviation program.

Here is a roundup of the various projects:

Roberts Library: Located on the Cochran Campus, Roberts Library (named for a former president, Dr. Lucien E. Roberts), was built in 1965. An addition was completed in 1991. With few updates since then, the state-appropriated $5.08 million in major improvements that took place over 2019-2020 were more than welcomed. Formally opened this spring, Roberts Library now boasts updated study and lounge areas, an open grand staircase connecting the second and third floors, computer labs, a café, improved ADA accessibility and more. The renovations made it possible for the School of Computing, Student Success Center, and the Writing Center to move into the library building. The photo shows the library’s new grand staircase.

Dillard Hall: Named for Ernest Dillard, a former dean of what was then called the Department of Chemistry and Physics, the two-story Dillard Hall science building on the Cochran Campus was completed in 1965. After a lab and classrooms were added in 2001, the original portion of the building became known as “Old Dillard.” Old Dillard is now reinvigorated, thanks to the state-appropriated $7.62 million in major renovations that took place over 2019-2020. Upgrades include better-equipped lab space and hands-on learning environments for health sciences students; lecture and computer classrooms; study areas; and student lounge. Dillard Hall now houses the departments of Nursing and Rehabilitation Science. The photo shows the demonstration kitchen used by students in the occupational therapy assistant program.

Nursing Annex: Thanks to $4.8 million in state-appropriated funding, MGA added to the Dublin Campus two large nursing lecture classrooms, a 20-bed hospital lab, a nursing simulation lab, and more. MGA also added two additional nursing faculty, which is allowing the Dublin Campus to increase the number of students admitted each year to the associate’s degree nursing program. MGA also expanded the bachelor’s degree program in nursing onto the Dublin Campus. The photo shows one of the new labs, complete with lifelike patient simulators.

Lakeview Pointe: The first residence hall built specifically for the Macon Campus, Lakeview Pointe, opened in fall 2020. The campus lakeside residence hall met a longstanding demand for additional housing on the Macon Campus and nearly doubled the number of students living there. Freshmen and sophomores live at Lakeview Pointe, while nearby University Pointe (acquired from private ownership some years ago), houses juniors and seniors.

Peyton Anderson Enrollment Center:  Expected to open in summer 2021, the privately funded Peyton Anderson Enrollment Center on the Macon Campus will bring together key enrollment-related offices under a single roof, making it an inviting point of entry for students who can access everything they need to be admitted and begin working on their degrees. The Peyton Anderson Foundation and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia provided financial gifts to help make the enrollment center a reality. The Peyton Anderson Foundation awarded the largest grant of $1.5 million.

Road Project: A $2.5 million road project – including a new roundabout - to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety, while also increasing visibility and access to the Macon Campus, was completed in August 2020. The project, funded by Macon-Bibb SPLOST and managed by Macon-Bibb Public Works, leads to the campus entrance at Eisenhower and University parkways. The project also required coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation and the University System of Georgia to secure rights-of-way for the roads and to ensure proper signage and signaling.

New Aircraft: In August 2020, MGA formally dedicated two new single-engine Piper Archers at Macon Downtown Airport. MGA purchased the new aircraft – funded through an $800,000 donation from the Charles H. Jones Family Foundation – so that the University’s Eastman-based School of Aviation could expand flight education in Macon. MGA is the fixed base operator (FBO) of Macon Downtown Airport.

A version of this article was originally published in the spring 2021 issue of MGA Today.