Murray State University is moving forward with demolishing Woods Hall next year. The Board of Regents approved on Friday using $1.8 million in reserves to demolish the building and convert the location into green space.
The boardhad previously authorized funds to demolish Woods as part of a project that also included renovating the Blackburn Science Building.
Vice President of Finance and Administration Jackie Dudley said the plan is for everything to be moved out of the building and asbestos remediation to begin in January. Work will also begin on preparing an RFP for razing as well as parking designs and for demolition in winter or early spring, depending on the weather.
Woods Hall was built in 1957 and is named after the university's fourth president Ralph Woods.
The 88,000 square-foot building was, up until recently, used for international student services and study abroad programs, as well as art studios and storage space. Those programs have relocated and the building is now mostly empty.
Regents, as well as interim president Bob Jackson, expressed a concern for the liabilities of a vacant building on campus.
Regent Jerry Rhoads discussed possibly naming the green space Woods Park.