Wayne State is renovating a residence hall and also has constructed a new parking lot for students, faculty and visitors who come to campus. Many students have been calling for a new parking lot because of the parking limitations on WSC’s campus.

“Having this new parking space for students and faculty, I think will really help everyone around here, and will help with parking visitors who come to games at Rice (Auditorium), and will help students get to class a lot sooner,” sophomore Kia Burkett said.

Since last spring, many students on campus communicated with student senate presidential candidates at the time that there were many students asking the candidates to help bring in more parking for students rather than spend it on something not as useful.

“A reason for this area was to help with numerous things, special events, sporting events and things along those lines, and when we have basketball games, football games we can use that lot to park public into and control the parking a little easier, so that will help with those,” Jason Mrsny, the campus security director said.

With the parking lot project finished, many students and visitors will have a place to park at much closer distances to the main offices and classes that they need to go to, rather than having to park along off-campus streets.

Another plus for students is that they are allowed to park in the new lot whenever they want during the day, but they need to have a “C” sticker on the back of their vehicles in order to access the lot. The new lot will be open to any valid permits after 5 p.m., and there will be no overnight parking allowed.

Another project underway on campus is the renovation of Benthack Hall. WSC was able to get appropriation from State General Funds in the 2019-2021 biennium, which was $6 million, and an additional $3.1 million State appropriation funds to complete the project.

Benthack Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus and was built in 1972. This renovation will address many areas that need upgrades such as infrastructure, equipment and environmental deficiencies.

When a campus master plan was adopted by the Board of Trustees on April 20, 2012, the board identified Benthack Hall as one of the first buildings that needed improvements in internal and external environmental trends.