Western Kentucky University is setting its sights on the future by planning a series of construction projects, including a new business college and residence hall.

“It’s really a needs assessment,” said Bryan Russell, WKU’s chief facilities officer, about a six-year capital projects plan. “We are in the early stages of taking the last six-year capital plan and updating.” 

When Russell presented the list of priority projects to WKU’s Board of Regents last Friday, President Gary Ransdell said a new business college is the university’s top priority for state funding, although he said it’s unclear when WKU could get funding for the project. 

“At the earliest we wouldn’t even have a chance to discuss it until the spring 2018 General Assembly because that’s the next time the budget will be in play,” he said. 

The state budget is only open to change every two years. Until then, Ransdell said, WKU will have to wait and see. 

“There’s just no way to tell at this point whether capital projects will get funded or not,” Ransdell said. “We’ll be in there pitching, but there’s no way to tell at this point. We might be able to raise some private money to help with that some, but not what that project requires. So that’s going to have to be primarily a state-funded project, and it will remain our top priority until we get it funded.” 

Russell told the Daily News on Wednesday that the business college project is estimated to cost about $50 million. The specific timeframe for the project is unclear at this point. That’s entirely in the hands of those in state government, he said. 

“It just depends on if the current administration has any appetite for funding any of the needs that are on that list,” he said. 

A new business college has been a university priority for years now, Russell said.

As it stands, the Gordon Ford College of Business is housed in Grise Hall. The plan would be to first build a fourth parking garage within the Adams Street parking lot. That garage would accommodate displaced parking taken up by the new college cutting into parking in the Kentucky Street parking lot, which sits directly across Kentucky Street from the Adams Street Lot. 

The college itself would be just across the street from Chili’s and the Augenstein Alumni Center. 

After it’s finished, the university would then turn to renovating Grise Hall, which dates to 1966. Russell said workers have been working steadily to improve Grise Hall but “it needs a significant amount of work.” The building’s auditorium was recently equipped with new seating and access upgrades for those with disabilities, he said. 

After those renovations, the Tate Page Hall would be torn down to expand the green space available on WKU’s South Lawn. 

“We’re probably talking six, eight, 10 years from now,” Russell said. 

Currently, work is underway on a new residence hall going up on College Heights Boulevard across the street from the Gatton Academy. Black mesh screens have been erected around the site, which sits in the open area between several residence halls. 

The new residence, called Hilltopper Hall, would have 410 beds and 24-hour dining on the ground floor. 

As for other ongoing projects, a parking garage going up in a parking lot off Creason Street will have an extra floor because of unexpected cost savings, bringing the net gain to 608 parking spaces total. 

The university is also planning renovations to the interior and exterior of the College Heights Foundation building. The building, which dates to 1969, would have a red and white brick facade to better match the more modern-looking buildings on campus. That project would cost about $1.6 million and be financed by private support. 

“If you’ve watched Western grow we’re trying to match and be conscious of the surrounding buildings,” Russell said. 

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.