By: Nathan Duff, Delta State University Communications
Ward Hall will be renovated and turned into upscale student housing.
Delta State University will move forward with a series of major campus improvement projects, including the long-anticipated renovation of historic Ward Hall, following recent state appropriations that will support facility renewal and infrastructure upgrades across campus.
Through Senate Bill 3053, Delta State received $1,234,544 as part of a statewide appropriation for construction, repair and renovation projects at Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning. In addition, Senate Bill 2189 provided $6.8 million for upgrades and demolition of campus buildings and facilities, with the majority of that funding designated for the restoration of Ward Hall and the demolition of Court of Governors to make way for a new campus green space.
University officials said the funding reflects continued momentum behind strategic improvements already underway at Delta State and supports a broader vision to modernize facilities while preserving the campus’s historic character.
“Ward Hall is such a historic and important part of Delta State and we’re thrilled to be bringing it back online after it being closed for over a decade,” said Delta State President Dr. Daniel J. Ennis. “It sends a message that this university has energy and is forward thinking.”
Originally constructed in 1930, Ward Hall will be transformed into a modern residence hall while maintaining its historic exterior. The project builds on $6 million in prior funding and moves the university closer to a full renovation valued at approximately $10 million. Current planning anticipates the facility reopening in fall 2028.
Dr. Edwin Craft, vice president for administration and chief financial officer, said the new appropriation allows the university to advance a project years in the making while also addressing broader infrastructure priorities.
“Our portion was $1,234,544 that can be used for construction and repair and renovation projects,” Craft said. “This appropriation is made for the purpose of providing the funds necessary to authorize expenditures for construction and/or repair and renovation projects.”
Craft noted that the additional support for Ward Hall comes on top of previously secured funding and positions the university to move the project toward construction bidding.
In addition to Ward Hall, the funding will support demolition of Court of Governors and development of a new green space designed for student and community use. Ennis said, “This will be a space open for all to enjoy that will foster a deepening of our already extraordinary town-and-gown relationship.”
The appropriations arrive as Delta State continues work on a broad slate of capital improvement projects already in progress across campus. Among them are the ongoing renovation of Walter Sillers Coliseum, upgrades to softball and baseball lighting, installation of a new hangar door at the university airport, new windows and doors at Broom Hall, and the nearly completed Nursing School remodel, which includes a new roof.
Additional improvements include new flooring in Foundation Hall, campuswide HVAC upgrades affecting facilities such as Chadwick-Dickson, the Bologna Performing Arts Center, Kethley Hall, Ewing Hall, Wright Art Center, Jobe Hall, Broom Hall, Roberts-LaForge Library, Delta Music Institute and other academic buildings.
Craft said roof repair projects are also underway across a significant portion of campus, ranging from full roof replacements to targeted repairs tied in part to storm damage restoration.
“These are significant moves for the campus,” Ennis said in remarks about the projects, emphasizing that the improvements represent both stewardship and long-term investment in the university’s future.
The university is also advancing wastewater and stormwater drainage repairs, a Statesmen Boulevard addition and an Ewing Hall chiller upgrade, all part of a broader effort to strengthen campus infrastructure.
Craft said those projects reflect a coordinated strategy to improve both the student experience and the long-term efficiency of university operations.
Current active projects also include a major roofing initiative affecting numerous campus facilities, along with energy-efficiency upgrades expected to reduce operating costs while improving performance in academic and student support spaces.
“Restoring Ward Hall was one of the first things I had on my agenda to get done when I became president,” Ennis said. “When completed, it will once again be a centerpiece of this campus.”
Officials said the combination of new appropriations and ongoing projects represents one of the most significant periods of campus reinvestment in recent years, positioning Delta State for continued growth as it enters its second century.