Kent State University trustees approves 10-year, $1 billion plan to reshape, revitalize campus

A rendering shows the potential future view of the new iconic main entrance to the Kent State University campus as seen from Main Street.

Kent, Ohio — The Kent State University Board of Trustees adopted a 10-year facilities master plan that embarks on a $1 billion “transformative journey of the Kent Campus to better serve the needs of students and the entire Kent State community.” The plan enhances the welcoming feel of the university’s iconic Front Campus and genuine sense of place, elevates inclusive healthy living-learning environments, links a campus-wide series of spaces focused on innovation and expands the dynamic synergy with the city of Kent.

The master plan would be implemented in three phases over the next decade, and would guide the alignment of university and external resources and capital investments with the objectives set forth in Kent State’s strategic roadmap.

“Everything we do must be through the eyes of our students, both today’s and tomorrow’s,” said Larry Pollock, chair of the Kent State Board of Trustees. “These enhancements will meet the needs of students for decades by providing them with the engaging, educational space they need to help shape the world. Each phase holds thoughtful enhancements focused on our students first commitment that will also raise the prominence of the university, the city of Kent and all who call this region their home.”

In addition to building improvements and purpose-built classrooms, studios and labs, the plan includes a walkable campus core with new sidewalks and bike trails and proposes the extension of Kent State’s iconic Front Campus to include a signature Main Street gateway to the university.

Anchoring the Main Street gateway is a new College of Business Administration building and the addition of green space and a modern parking deck to replace current parking lots near the gateway entrance. Closer to the city of Kent, an innovation zone is planned adjacent to the Starbucks/Captain Brady site. New 24/7 maker spaces, multidisciplinary studios and dining would form an innovation hub within the redesigned Art Building to meet student, faculty and staff needs.

Teaching and learning enhancements include an addition to the Aeronautics and Technology building, a new Kent State University Airport classroom building, research lab expansion at the Integrated Sciences Building and dynamic renovations to the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center) and Kent Student Center, to name a few.

The strategies were developed with broad input from a series of highly engaged town hall and community meetings, and numerous informational sessions were held to seek input from students, faculty and staff.

This 10-year plan is expected to touch every college on the Kent Campus and strengthen the university’s connection to its home city of Kent.

Details about the updated plan can be found at https://atransformedksu.org/.