Clock Tower Pulled from Campus Plaza Extension Plan

What would have been a new landmark on the campus has been pulled from expansion plans for Risman Plaza.

A large clock tower, to be included in the campus green project extending Risman Plaza south to Summit Street, has been removed from the construction plans.

Kent State University President Lester Lefton said plans for the entire project, including the clock tower, came in higher than university officials expected.

"We could have reallocated monies from other projects to complete the clock tower, but in my judgment I would rather invest the money in classroom renovations, ADA compliance renovations and our child development center," Lefton said earlier this month. "At the end of the day I thought the classroom renovations were just more important."

The Kent State University Board of Trustees voted in September 2010 to approve plans for the new green space, which would eliminate the existing turn-in at Risman Drive and replace it with a large amphitheater-like lawn with a student performance area, the clock tower and a monument wall inscribed with the university name.

The trustees stipulated that the performance stage and clock tower projects were not to exceed a total cost of $1.9 million, according to the university's summary of board actions.

Construction was supposed to start in the spring of 2011.

Lefton said the university still plans to build the green space and student performance stage, and they plan to build the base for the clock tower so the tower itself can be built at a later date.

"Really the goal is to find a donor or find some other revenue stream," Lefton said. "The tower will be built, just not this year. Maybe not next year, but we’ll get to it. We do see it as an important, iconic symbol of the institution."

A fund was established for the projects and fundraising for naming opportunities is under way, according to the university. The greenspace and clock tower project is separate from approved by trustees earlier this month.

The Daily Kent Stater reported that the campus green plan included the elimination of 25 to 50 of 400 existing parking spaces at the visitor lot adjacent to Risman Plaza.