Tulsa's ORU Breaks Ground On $12.5 Million Student Center

ORU broke ground Wednesday on its first major construction project in decades.

Oral Roberts University is building a new Alumni-Student Center on campus. The project isn't just great news for students; it's also an important symbol for school leaders, alumni and the community.

With the ceremonial shovels, and even heavy equipment more suited for a big dig, Oral Roberts University broke ground on a new Alumni-Student Center.

It will be the first major building to be built on campus in more than 27 years. The new Armand Hammer Center will be two stories with 28,000 square feet.

"In the university setting, there is hardly anything that compares to add life and vitality than starting a new building," said Mark Rutland, ORU President.

The new building will be a place where students can get food and play games. There will be lounges, and it will house ORU's Alumni and Career Services Offices.

"For students, it just means so much to have a place that we can all congregate," said Jentre Olsen, Student Association President.

The building was designed to fit in with the architectural style of other buildings on campus.

"The university came to us and wanted something that was a little different than what they have now, but still fit in and so we took some time to develop a building that would do that," said Mark Bragg, Project Manager.

School leaders say the project signifies much more than just a new place for students to enjoy.

"This is the manifest proof that we are out of debt, we're growing in enrollment, our alumni are re energized," Rutland said.

The once financially troubled university is paying for the $12.5 million building with cash.

"We raised [the money] so fast, it took my breath away," Rutland said.

ORU's president says the center is a statement that the best is yet to come and that the university is alive and on the move.

The new alumni-student center at ORU is expected to be finished in the Spring of 2013.