Gulf Park Construction Update

Updated November 5, 2012

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus is well on its way with two historic restoration projects, two renovations and one new construction project.

More than seven years after Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the university’s beachfront campus, work is nearing completion to restore buildings that once housed offices, classrooms and various departments.

The new Science Building, a $10 million project, on the Gulf Park campus will feature nine teaching and research laboratories, research space, approximately 20 faculty and administrative offices and an 80-seat instructional classroom within the three-story building. The Science Building, located in the northwest section of the Gulf Park campus, is expected to be completed by November 2012 and is being constructed by J.F. Pate and Associates Contractors, Inc.

Hardy Hall, a $10 million construction and historic restoration project, was originally built in 1921 and is a campus landmark. The three-story building will house the bookstore, assembly space, dining services, administrative offices and the College of Education and Psychology. Construction, under the direction of C. Perry Builders Inc., should be completed December 2012.

Lloyd Hall is a $2.4 million historic restoration project and another longtime structure on the Gulf Park campus. Lloyd Hall will house ten classrooms. Construction on this restoration project began fall 2011 and should be completed November 2012 by Starks Contracting Company.

The renovation project for Elizabeth Hall, which will house the College of Arts & Letters, is also led by Starks Contracting Company. The project will cost $2 million and is slated for completion by February 2013.

The College of Nursing Building, a $1.5 million project, is under the direction of J.F. Pate and Associates Contractors, Inc. The building will feature 10,000 square feet of instruction, laboratory and office space. The expected completion date for the College of Health Building is December 2012.

All five building projects broke ground in 2011. Each groundbreaking ceremony featured a new campus tradition where faculty, staff and students, representing the offices, departments and classrooms to be housed in the building, decorated shovels used to break the ground for their designated building.

For more information on Southern Miss Gulf Coast, call 228.865.4573.