Addition to Temple Hall - Section 106 Public Notification

Temple [Blunt] Hall is an integral and active research center supporting the University’s educational mission. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in coordination with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are providing federal grants to fund the construction of additional laboratory, research, and teaching spaces proposed for the northeast corner of the building. NIST, in coordination with HRSA, and in consultation with the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office (MO SHPO), recently determined that Temple [Blunt] Hall (built 1972) is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criteria C. Therefore, the design is subject to review through the federally established Section 106 consultation process [36 CFR PART 800]. NIST, as the lead agency, and HRSA conducted a review of the project to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations 36 CFR Part 800. An on-site meeting was held on 30 January 2023 with representatives from NIST, SHPO, and MSU to continue the Section 106 process and assess affects in context of the campus environs. As a result of that meeting, SHPO, NIST, and HRSA agree that the proposed addition (the Undertaking) to Temple [Blunt] Hall, does constitute an adverse effect because it occupies the originally landscaped plaza and obscures portions of the original North and East facades. In accordance with 36 CFR 806, NIST and HRSA have proposed mitigation measures that shall be formalized in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

The project consists of a three-story, 11,000sf addition to the existing Temple [Blunt] Hall, a science laboratory and classroom building on the main campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri. Temple [Blunt] Hall and its surrounding landscaping were constructed in 1971, at what was then the southwest edge of the early twentieth century campus. The campus has since expanded westward to surround the Temple [Blunt] Hall. As noted earlier, the addition requires the removal of the existing landscaping and hardscaping at the northeast corner of the building. It also requires the removal and/or alteration of portions of the north and east facades of the building. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for direct effects is the historic site boundary of the building, which is the West Mall (formerly Lombard Street) on the north, the vacated Kings Avenue on the east, Belmont Street on the south, and John Q. Hammons Parkway (formerly Dollison Street) on the west. Enclosed are photos of the existing building and renderings of the proposed addition.