Local trio honored for donating building to Riley Center project

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Jan. 20, 2004
Three local men were publicly thanked Monday by Mississippi State University President Charles Lee for donating the Newberry building to the Riley Education and Performing Arts Center project.
During a meeting at the Riley Center on Poplar Springs Drive, Bill Billups, Tom Crowson and Guy Purvis were recognized by Lee.
Crowson agreed: "I think it will be a very nice facility, and it will benefit all of the state of Mississippi, particularly in this area."
Billups said the project will enhance not only downtown, but all of Meridian. "We're happy to donate the property and look forward to the completion of this project," he said.
Lee said architects began to run out of space as they worked on designs for renovation of the Grand Opera House and the adjoining Marks-Rothenberg building. They will be used for performances, classes and a conference center.
The Newberry building is adjacent to the Grand Opera House and the Marks-Rothenberg building.
At Monday's meeting, Tom Johnson, one of the project architects, talked about the important role the Newberry building played in the history of the Grand Opera House.
Martinez and Johnson Architecture, based in Washington, D.C., is doing the restoration of the Grand Opera House and will do the design work for renovation of the Newberry Building.
Bids are expected to be opened later this month for preconstruction work, including non-historic demolition and removal of hazardous materials from the opera house and Newberry buildings.
Bids will be requested for structural stabilization work on the Marks-Rothenberg building next month.
White Construction Co. of Ridgeland was selected as the construction manager for the overall project in December. The scheduled completion date is December 2005.