Administration Building prepares for closure as infrastructure project continues

The Administration Building will close this winter as part of Northwest's infrastructure modernization project. (Photo by Lilly Cook/Northwest Missouri State University)

Administrative offices at Northwest Missouri State University will soon be moving as the institution progresses on its three-year infrastructure modernization project.

Beginning on Dec. 1, employees will vacate Northwest's historic Administration Building, and all offices housed in the structure will move to temporary locations on the campus. Staff who work in the building are preparing now by packing the contents of their offices for the move and storage.

"This is a necessary step, in the midst of our infrastructure modernization project, to maintain a productive work environment for our employees and continue to serve our students," Stacy Carrick, Northwest's vice president of finance and administration, said. "We are working hard to make sure we place services in locations that are accessible to our students and stakeholders."

Completed in 1910, the Administration Building stood as the campus's sole academic building until the completion of Colden Hall in 1959. In 2010, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The building survived tornado damage in 1919, but a devastating fire in 1979 destroyed 60 percent of the original structure, including its north wing auditorium. Reconstruction in the wake of the fire placed offices throughout the campus and kept the building from being fully occupied for more than two years.

Administration Building offices also were relocated temporarily for approximately two weeks in May 1992 while the building was closed for bat abatement and cleaning.

Temporary office locations

All staff members working in the offices of the Provost, Grants Coordinator, University Marketing and Communication, the Graduate School, TRIO and academic deans will move to Owens Library.

Career Services staff will move to three separate locations. Hannah Christian and Linda Standerford will move to Colden Hall; Travis Kline will reside in Wells Hall, and Kristin Little will be in Owens Library.

Two temporary office buildings in Lot 27, located northwest of the Garrett-Strong Science Building, will house other offices moving from the Administration Building. One of the temporary buildings will house the offices of Finance and Administration, Payroll, the Controller, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Institutional Research and Effectiveness. The other temporary building will house the offices of the Registrar, Admissions, Financial Assistance and Student Account Services, along with Dr. Allison Hoffmann and Carrie Quinn for the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success.

The Office of Title IX and Equity will move to the third floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.

The Office of the President will move to 720 College Avenue, a property owned by the Northwest Foundation Inc.

The east wing of the building's third floor, which houses Northwest's foods and nutrition programs, will remain accessible through the spring of 2026 in conjunction with the completion of Martindale Hall renovations.

Northwest webpages will be updated, and signage will be placed at temporary office locations to help the campus community find specific employees.

Parking lots affected

As a result of the arrival of temporary office buildings, Lot 27, which is designated for commuting students, is closed to vehicles. The parking lot will remain closed for the duration of the Administration Building's closure, which is expected through summer 2026.

The following locations are available to motorists for alternate parking:

• Commuter students may park in lots 26, 28 and 38.
• Resident students may park in lots 26 and 28.
• Employees may park in lots 25, 26 and 29.
• Handicapped accessibility is available near Garrett-Strong in lots 25, 31 and 38.

Click this link to view a parking map. For more information about parking on campus, contact the University Police Department at 660.562.1254.

More about the infrastructure modernization project

The closure of the Administration Building this winter is the latest step in the second phase of Northwest's infrastructure modernization project.

In addition to the Administration Building, upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are enhancing Everett Brown Education Hall, the McKemy Center for Lifelong Learning, B.D. Owens Library, Roberta Hall, the Student Rec Center, the J.W. Jones Student Union, Valk Center, Wells Hall and the Wellness Center.

Most recently, tunnel improvements were completed to convert the University's centralized steam plant to a decentralized hot water plant.

When finished in 2026, the three-year, $105 million infrastructure modernization project will enable the University to deliver more reliable, sustainable and cost-effective utility services to campus facilities.

For more information about Northwest's Infrastructure Modernization Project, visit https://www.nwmissouri.edu/alert/infrastructure/.