Missouri Baptist Under Construction

is getting some work done.

It’s the biggest construction venture the school has ever undertaken.

With roughly 30 percent of the campus’ acreage being used, Missouri Baptist is building a new athletic complex, and new on-campus apartments adjacent to the athletic facilities.

“The fitness center is going to be a huge component of our athletic program,” said Bryce Chapman, Missouri Baptist’s Director of Communications. “It’s also going to be a huge component of campus culture. It’s going to be a pretty substantial center that will be open to all the staff, faculty, students and alumni. So adding onto our campus at this point is going to be crucial as we continue to grow as one of the major leaders in St. Louis in higher education.”

The new $11 million sports and recreation building designed by the Ittner architectural firm is being built by L.A. Schaefer Construction and will be about 50,000 square feet. The new gymnasium will seat about 1,000 people – nearly 600 more than the old gym, which will remain intact and be used for varsity wrestling. The men’s and women’s basketball teams and volleyball team will use the new gym, and its generous use of natural light, for varsity competition.

The campus theme of red brick and tan will continue with the new buildings.

The main entrance off of North Forty Road will have a fork with one way leading to the chapel and administration buildings. The other will lead to the athletic building and apartments. In front of the athletic building will be an eight-foot bronze Spartan statue.

“First and foremost, it’s helping the university become more of a residential campus,” Chapman said. “What we’re seeing is a lot of growth on campus with the apartments and the fitness center.”

In addition to a walking/running track on the balcony overlooking the gym floor, the fitness center will also house a weight room, coaches’ offices, an aerobics center and athletic training facilities that will include four locker rooms, training rooms, a doctor’s office, classrooms and labs for the school’s health and sports sciences division.

Jon Vestal, the school's director of development, said the health and sports sciences field is “one of the school’s fastest growing divisions.”

The athletic complex will also include a balcony lounge over the gym that could be used as a sort of luxury suite. It will also have a courtyard and Spartan Hall that can be used for various events.

Spartan Village

The new Spartan Village will begin with a pair of two-story apartment buildings that will hold about 20 students each. More buildings are planned for future construction but the two current buildings will be move-in ready in August. The three-story athletic facility, which will employ a fulltime director, is scheduled to open in October.

Every apartment, which are booked for the fall semester and are not available to freshmen, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and will be furnished with beds and a flatscreen television.

“These will really, really enhance campus life for our students,” Chapman said.

There are plans to also use the apartments to house people attending retreats and summer camps.

Chapman said he is “excited” about the fitness center, which will have state-of-the-art equipment and extended hours.

“The idea is to increase the overall culture of campus community,” Chapman said. “In the past, we’ve been known as more of a commuter campus. While we still attract a number of commuters, we are increasing the number of residential students.”

Chapman and Vestal gave much of the credit for the “incredible growth” to school president, Dr. Alton Lacey. In the 16 years Lacey has been leading the school, Missouri Baptist has grown from roughly 1,000 students to more than 5,200.

Despite the rapid growth, the NAIA school will not be looking to move up to the NCAA level of athletics.

“We’re growing dramatically with our athletic program and are continuing to see growth the last few years,” Chapman said, “but we’re pretty content staying with NAIA right now.”

Vestal added, “There are a lot of things that are happening.”

For evidence, just drive through campus.