PITTSBURG, Kan. — A significant part of Pittsburg State University’s recently announced $100 million capital campaign, is $53 million slated to renovate two important buildings on the campus Oval, Heckert‑Wells Hall and Yates Hall.
Because the university has received some federal and state funding for the project, the amount needed to revamp the buildings is $20 million.
Yates Hall was built in 1963 and houses the university’s Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science programs. Heckert-Wells Hall, which houses the Biology and Chemistry departments, was built in 1984. According to a news release, the buildings have not had major updates since the doors first opened.
“Our programs have evolved dramatically since the 1960s and 1980s, when the facilities were constructed,” said Chris Childers, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences in a news release. “Our facilities have not — and it’s time to close that gap.”
Emerging and expanding programs such as Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Materials Science require specialized teaching and research spaces that did not exist when these buildings were built, the university stated. The Computer Science Program — just three years old — already has exceeded enrollment projections, with continued growth anticipated.
“Students now arrive at Pitt State from high schools with laboratory facilities that exceed the quality of those currently available on campus,” said Childers. “Faculty are teaching modern curricula in spaces designed for a different era, and the limitations of the facilities have become increasingly apparent.”
Using seed money from a federal science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) infrastructure initiative, the university has started designing the facilities.
The university said work is expected to begin this year and will be completed in phases through 2030. Fundraising for the $20 million has begun.
Almost every student enrolled at PSU has at least some classes in Heckert-Wells or Yates, because of general education requirements. Students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science use these facilities throughout their academic careers, as do students in numerous other majors.
“Heckert‑Wells and Yates are central to the Pitt State experience,” said President Thomas Newsom. “Nearly every student passes through these buildings, and for students pursuing STEM careers, their future begins here. This project ensures our facilities match the quality of the education we deliver and the workforce needs of our region.”
The renovation will modernize and optimize Heckert‑Wells and Yates for a dedicated Computer Science and Cybersecurity Lab, updated STEM classrooms and teaching labs, specialized research space, enhanced facilities for Chemistry, Physics, Material Science, and interdisciplinary work and a new central connector between the two buildings to promote collaboration across STEM disciplines.
The Computer Science and Cybersecurity lab in Yates is projected to be completed in Summer 2027.
“This project is about more than buildings,” Newsom said. “It’s about student success, regional workforce development, and ensuring Pitt State continues to prepare graduates for the careers and challenges of today and tomorrow.”
For more information about supporting this project, contact Mary Jo Dancer at mdancer@pittstate.edu or 620-235-6127.
