Pittsburg State holds indoor groundbreaking - KOAM TV 7

Pittsburg State holds indoor groundbreaking for new Center for the Arts

If it's too cold outside for a groundbreaking, bring the groundbreaking indoors.

A ceremony held this morning inside Pittsburg State's Weede Physical Education building celebrated the official beginning of work on the nearby Center for the Arts.

A trough of dirt was brought inside so dignitaries could turn the spades in warmth.

The $33 million project has been planned for years.  The university hasn't had a large, on-campus performance venue since Carney Hall was closed in 1978.

The Arts & Entertainment Center is being built at the corner of Homer and Ford Streets.

"One of the things that is important to note about this facility is that it doesn't have any state dollars in it," says PSU President Dr. Steve Scott.  "There is no taxpayer dollars - this is all from individuals that care about Pittsburg State University, it's from our students, from corporations in the region.  They 'got it' - they recognized how important it is for us to put this facility in place and how important it is for the future of Pittsburg State University."

PSU says they still need donors to help with furnishing the new A&E center.