Morehead State Breaks Ground on Transformative Campus Projects During Homecoming

Morehead State University celebrated a major milestone as Homecoming 2025 kicked off with groundbreaking ceremonies for two transformative construction projects that will redefine the student experience and MSU’s academic landscape.

The ceremonies, held on the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 17, marked the official launch of the Multidisciplinary Academic Building and a new residence hall that will replace Normal Hall, which was razed earlier this year. These projects are part of MSU’s long-term campus revitalization plan aimed at enhancing learning environments, modernizing student housing, and fostering community.

MSU President Dr. Jay Morgan addressed alumni, students, and community members gathered for the event.

“MSU was recently named the number 12 public regional university in the South, our highest ranking ever, and we were just elevated as a Carnegie Research University,” said Dr. Jay Morgan. “Our commitment to academic excellence and student success continues with these new buildings that are meant to transform the University for generations of students to come.”

The Multidisciplinary Academic Building will house music and business programs, offering innovative classrooms, performance spaces, and collaborative areas. The new residence hall will feature modern amenities and design elements reflecting the input of MSU students.

“This new building is going to open even more doors, modern study spaces, areas for group projects, breakout rooms, hands-on learning environments, and so much more. Opportunities like these will help students grow, collaborate, and thrive in ways we can only begin to imagine,” said Andrea Newland, senior business major from Lexington, representing the Elmer R. Smith College of Business & Technology.

Senior music major Braeden Trent of Morehead represented the Department of Music & Theatre, he said, “This inspires us as students of the arts at MSU and encourages us to strive for the highest level of musicianship and collaboration as musical students. That culture and inspiration will continue, even as we move out of Baird Music Hall.”

Student Government Association President Thomas Clem, a senior sociology and social justice major from Louisville, also spoke at the ceremony.

“One of the things I hear most often from current students is how MSU feels like a home, and the community is really like a family,” Clem said. “With the construction of two new residence halls and hopefully more to come, MSU is making bold strides in creating a modern, comfortable living environment that reflects the warmth and connection our students already feel. Because a residence hall isn't just where students sleep, it's where they study late into the night, share meals with friends, laugh in the hallways, and build relationships that last a lifetime.”

Construction on the new residence hall is expected to be completed in Spring 2027, and the Multidisciplinary Academic Building is scheduled for completion in Fall 2027.

For more information and updates on Morehead State University’s ongoing campus revitalization, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/forward.