Ever since Gov. Jay Nixon declared his intentions to secure $5.2 million in funding from the state legislature for Missouri Southern renovation efforts last December, Reynolds Hall has been the topic of conversation.

The building, which houses the University’s biology, environmental health, physical sciences and mathematics programs, has been identified as Southern’s top priority due to its long outdated laboratories and facilities which are considered to be behind industry standards.

While the Missouri House of Representatives is currently mulling over the bond issue that would provide the $5.2 million, Missouri Southern has began taking steps on its plan B, which sees the state congress considering another piece of legislature that would allowSouthern to match state funds should the bond issue not pass.

According to John Tiede, interim vice president of development, the development office has already started to prepare for this funding possibility.

“That’s the piece from the development side I am more concerned with, because if we receive that, then obviously we would need to raise matching funds to maximize those dollars,” said Tiede.

On Jan. 30, Tiede and the development office met with Crystal Lemmons, assistant vice president of academic affairs and former head of the biology department, to prioritize and figure out which areas of Reynolds Hall need to be renovated first in case the state approves funding option number two.

“It’s really not nailed down yet,” said Tiede, “But it seemed like the emphasis would be, assuming we have limited dollars, to remodel the first floor.”

Six different labs occupy the first floor of Reynolds. During the meeting, Lemmons was asked to provide the names and function of each lab as well as whatever new equipment might be needed in them.

“I think probably we’re not going to go much beyond this [point of preparation] until we see if the legislation passes,” said Tiede. “We’re just kind of getting it off the ground. It’s really preliminary right now.”