In the heart of downtown Pittsburg, Kansas, a landmark is getting a second chance—thanks in part to the hands-on efforts of Pittsburg State University (PSU) construction interns. The historic Besse Hotel, nearly a century old, is undergoing a major renovation led by Crossland Construction as part of PSU’s Gorilla Rising initiative.

The 13-story building had fallen into disrepair in recent decades, but is now being revitalized with new purpose: as a vibrant mixed-use facility with student housing, commercial space, and educational support services.

"It's almost 100 years old. From what we've seen, this building was probably 10 to 15 years from having some major structural issues before we started rehabbing it,” said Job Site Superintendent Cheyne Sager.

For the past two months, crews have been working to convert floors two through thirteen into 57 student apartments with 62 beds. The ground floor will include retail or commercial space and house the PSU Center for Reading as well as the Kansas Small Business Development Center, bringing new resources and energy to the downtown community.

“We're framing walls for the apartments on the second, third, fourth and fifth. Just a little bit happening on sixth and roughing in electric, plumbing. Getting all the utilities into the spaces,” Sager explained.

Joining Crossland’s professional crew are PSU construction management interns, who are getting a real-world education that no classroom can fully replicate. Dylan Halterman, a PSU graduate and former intern with Crossland, now helps lead the project while mentoring the next generation.

“This job, you're getting exposed to a little bit of everything. And I think that's beneficial not only to me and growing in my career, but interns as well as they grow and become field engineers and project engineers,” Halterman said.

Halterman is especially proud to be part of a project with personal meaning. “We just started this job and I got to be on it. And it's been a real honor to be on this and do something for Pittsburg that they've done for me for four years. It's nice to just give a little something back.”

For current interns, the project offers not only a resume boost, but a lasting emotional connection to their community. Levi McGee, one of the interns working on the renovation, shared how the transformation has inspired his friends and fellow students.

“I've told all my friends we're turning this into student housing. They're like, well, what's it called? I'll just say Gorilla Rising. And they'll be like, oh, I'll have to move in there one day,” said McGee.

But beyond student interest, McGee said the legacy of the project is what means the most.

“This is the first building you see whenever you walk or whenever you drive into Pittsburg. It's going to be really cool being able to drive through it in the future and point at the biggest building in Pittsburg saying, hey, I helped remodel that to my kids.”

The Gorilla Rising project is scheduled to be completed by August 2026, and when finished, the Besse Hotel will not only house students—it will stand as a symbol of community pride, education in action, and the next chapter for one of Pittsburg’s most iconic structures.

Originally reported by Samantha Walker in KOAM News Now.