BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University is preparing for another major construction season as the campus expands to accommodate record-breaking student enrollment, with new academic buildings nearing completion and demolition plans set to begin this summer.
University officials say visible changes across campus are just the beginning of a broader transformation driven by sustained growth. Enrollment surpassed 17,000 students in fall 2025, fueling demand for additional academic space, housing and infrastructure improvements.
Residents and campus staff say the changes have been noticeable over the past several years.
“Oh, when I was a student on campus a few years ago, the Student Wellness Center didn’t even exist,” said Tana Babb, a university employee who first enrolled in 2018. “Construction to Gianforte Hall — that was new to me. Then all the roads over here, they filled them in with sidewalks, so that’s new.”
Two of the university’s largest ongoing projects — Jones Hall and Gianforte Hall — are expected to open in time for the fall semester, providing modern facilities for high-demand programs.
“What it also means is that we’re seeing infrastructure growth at MSU, and that has primarily been evident in two projects that are ongoing right now,” said university spokesperson Michael Becker.
Jones Hall will serve as the future home of MSU’s College of Nursing. The facility was made possible through a $101 million philanthropic gift from donors Mark and Robyn Jones, marking the largest donation ever made to a college of nursing in the United States.
“The building will be a state-of-the-art nursing education facility sitting right there at the corner of 11th and Grant,” Becker said. “We’re hoping to have that open this fall for a grand opening for students.”
Meanwhile, Gianforte Hall will house the Gianforte School of Computing and related disciplines, including music technology, film and photography. Supported by a $50 million donation from the Gianforte Family Foundation, the building will feature 10 to 12 specialized labs and studios.
“It will help our students really form a nexus point where all of these digital disciplines are coming together — all in one place,” Becker said.
In addition to new construction, MSU is preparing to begin demolition of the West Side Houses, a smaller family graduate housing complex on campus. The demolition will clear space for a future residence hall, further supporting the university’s long-term growth strategy.
“There will be renovations all over campus,” Becker said. “One thing people will see over the summer: we will begin demolition of the smaller family graduate housing area, known as the West Side Houses.”
Officials say the university’s expansion reflects broader workforce needs across Montana, particularly in fields such as nursing and cybersecurity.
“It means we have cutting-edge facilities available for students in fields that are in demand in Montana,” Becker said.
While the expansion has been largely welcomed, some in the campus community say infrastructure improvements should also include additional parking capacity.
For Babb, the university’s continued growth is a positive sign for the future.
“To continue growing. Maybe some more parking lots would be good,” she joked.
As construction ramps up, Montana State University continues to position itself as a growing hub for education and workforce development in the region.
Originally reported by Cassidy Powers in KXLF.
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