The Film and Media Studies Department will move from Oldfather Studios, 1621 W. Ninth St., to Summerfield Hall beginning in the fall of 2016. The Undergraduate Studies’ University Career Center will also be relocated to Summerfield Hall.  

This move stems from the building of a new business school, which will open in fall of 2016 as the main business building.

Tracy Horstman, assistant vice provost of Capital Planning and Space Management, said she  wants the move to allow film and media studies to be closer to campus and the School of the Arts.

“Oldfather builds a separation and this is an opportunity to bring film onto campus and integrate them,” Horstman said.

Louis Fehlig, a senior from Overland Park, said he hopes the move will make the film and media program more noticed on campus.

“It would be nice to see KU become a bigger destination for film students in future years and allow [the program to] gain more national recognition,” Fehlig said.

The Undergraduate Studies’ career services will also be moved from the bottom floor of the Burge Union to Summerfield.

Assistant Director of Strategic Communications Gavin Young hopes moving an important undergraduate service will be convenient for students.

“We’d like to get their central location closer to the majority of the academic services,” Young said.

To move both departments, Summerfield will be closed during the 2016 summer for major repairs. University architect James Modig foresees about $2 million worth of improvements, including those in heating and cooling, electrical services and creating larger door access.

Brittany Koppers, a sophomore from Leawood, said she has attended classes in Summerfield and is looking forward to the upgrades.

“Summerfield is very dark and old,” Koppers said. “It's not a very welcoming environment that's conducive for group studying and teamwork, which is a huge part of being a business student.”

Brandon Cotter, a freshman from Dallas majoring in film and media studies, said he received an email that the school is in the process of collecting donations and new equipment to upgrade what’s been in Oldfather Studios.

“While [Oldfather has] been around for so long, as a student, I can say I’m very excited to experience both,” Cotter said.

— Edited by Yu Kyung Lee