Last of USM’s Katrina-damaged buildings finally being restored

LONG BEACH — The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast has a broken ground for the restoration of Elizabeth Hall and the newly appointed Health Sciences Building on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach.

Elizabeth Hall and the Health Sciences Building, both heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, are the final two building projects to break ground for the university’s Gulf Park campus this year.

The restoration project for Elizabeth Hall, which will house the College of Arts and Letters, will be led by Starks Contracting Company. The project will cost $1.7 million and is slated for completion by December 2012.

The Health Sciences Building, a $1.5 million project, is under the direction of J.F. Pate and Associates Contractor Inc. Housing the College of Health, the expected completion date for the Health Sciences Building is July 2012.