Innovation on the Horizon: Park’s Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center

The Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center on Park University’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo., will be located on the east side of the University’s main entrance where Park House was previously located. Rendering provided by WSKF Architects.

Park University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center on Dec. 6. Pictured are (from left): Brian Bode, vice president of facilities; Nathan Marticke, ’10 MACL, chief advancement officer; Sarah Weygand, ’16, director of military and veteran student services; Aaron Eyerly, senior business administration/international business major and ROTC cadet; Kirby Brown, dean, College of Management; Dolly Clement, Robert W. Plaster Foundation executive director; Dr. Greg Gunderson, president; David Fowler, former president; Jeanette Prenger, ’09, chair of Park’s Board of Trustees; Ernie Straub, Straub Construction president; Dr. Michelle Myers, provost; and Christian Leonard, senior mathematics major and Park Student Government Association president.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” — Steve Jobs

Park University is making way for a changing future with its new Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. When completed, the Plaster Center will be home to the School of Business and the Park Global Warrior Center, which assists service members and veterans transitioning in and out of the military.

The Plaster Center will be located on the site where Park House previously stood (see story related to the Park House move on page 24) on the east side of the main entrance to the University’s flagship campus in Parkville, Mo. The building is expected to encompass 20,500 square feet and will include classroom and office space, state-of-the-art finance lab, video production studio, special innovation and entrepreneurship lab, and a lounge for commuter students.

“Park’s Plaster Center will serve as a beacon of innovation for the greater Kansas City community, as well as for students at our 41 other campuses across the country and online around the globe,” said Kirby Brown, dean of Park’s College of Management. “It also will expand our ability to directly benefit Park’s military and veteran students, as the majority of them (74% undergraduate, 39% graduate) are business majors.”

With more than $6.4 million in commitments for the project and continued fundraising, groundbreaking for the Plaster Center took place on Dec. 6. For more information or to support the building project, contact Nathan Marticke, associate vice president for university advancement, at nathan.marticke@park.edu or (816) 584-6844.