Salem gymnasium project awaits board approval

by Melody Gustafson
SALEM—The Board of Trustees at the Kent Campus will review plans in November for a proposed expansion of the health and science programs through a $5.9 million project to convert the KSU-Salem gymnasium into a two-story facility.

“This plan has been in the works since 2003” said Melissa Cope, business manager at the Salem campus.

According to Cope, Dr. David Kramer, vice-president of administration, has given his final approval for the job to move forward. If the board approves and funding is secured, officials estimate construction to begin late in the summer of 2008.

Vince Putataro, architect at the Kent Campus, will meet with the board to iron out the details. An outside firm designed the plan, and Putataro acts as liaison between Kent and the architects and engineers that work on regional campus construction projects.

The plan comprises radiology and nursing classrooms on the first floor and biology and chemistry labs on the second floor. Although workers replaced the roof last year, this project will complete the remodeling process resulting in a new, expanded nursing, science and radiology wing for KSU-Salem.