SPRINGFIELD — By next fall, several elements of the Missouri State University art and design department will have a new home – a renovated building located at 305 West Mill Street in downtown Springfield.

Missouri State has signed a binding letter of intent to enter into a 10-year lease agreement with Brick City, L.P., the owner of what is known as Building #4 of the Brick City development complex. The building includes 20,101 square feet on two floors. The university will pay $11.25 per square foot for the lease, which will increase by the Kansas City Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the subsequent years. The university also has committed to spending up to $100,000 for initial renovations to meet specific programmatic requirements.

“One of the university’s goals for several years now has been to consolidate and improve our facilities for the art and design department,” said Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, president of Missouri State. “The department is currently fragmented in six different facilities. We are pleased to have taken this first step toward that goal.”

A committee of university and community representatives reviewed and visited several facilities in downtown Springfield before recommending the Brick City building. The committee was chaired by Wade Thompson, acting head of the art and design department.

“The committee found the character of the building highly conducive to creative arts activity,” said Thompson. “High ceilings and open spaces will allow the department the level of flexibility needed to manage current studio and academic programs, and to develop interdisciplinary connections across various studio arts disciplines.”