Old building goes 'green' as officials ponder future plans

Demolition of the old Music Building is scheduled to be complete by Jan. 23 as Texas A&M University-Commerce prepares to make the area into a green space.

According to Vice President for Business and Administration Bob Brown, the area will be converted into a green space for the foreseeable future until a decision is made on what the area may be used for.

"The University will undertake a revision to its long-range master plan for facilities during the coming year," Brown said. "During that review process, alternative uses for the space may be suggested."

Assistant Vice President for Facilities & Support Services David McKenna explained that as the demolition comes to a close, workers will begin the grading process in which dirt will be brought in to the area and smoothed across the footprint of the building so holes are filled.

For some students, the demolition of the old Music Building is an opportunity for the school to do more for the campus atmosphere.

"I think this could be a good way for the administration to bring in something good for the students in the future," freshman Gloria Jimenez said. "That's a big spot to do nothing with, so I would hope that they bring in something that students can actually enjoy on a normal social level. There's nothing in this town for [students] to do, so having something actually cool on campus would be a big step. A lot of [students] leave this place partly because there's nothing here."

For former music major and now A&M-Commerce graduate Jamal Walker, the demolition is a step forward.

"That's where I had all of my instruction, but now they have outgrown that building and moved on," Walker said. "It's not being used anymore, and it was out of date. Moving something else [into the building] wouldn't really work all that well since the building was already [having issues] to start with."

Rumors have spread about a possible sports bar as well as other attractions, but A&M-Commerce administrators have not given any indication to the validity of these claims.