Southern Arkansas University has received a generous grant of $1.454 million from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) to benefit renovations in Greene Hall. With this grant, ANCRC has invested over $5.5 million to enhance and enrich the SAU campus for the students, faculty, staff, and community.
“SAU appreciates the partnership with ANCRC and its financial support in helping us preserve such an important part of Arkansas’s history,” said SAU President Dr. Bruno Hicks. “The buildings not only represent the history of the era in which they were built but are currently a vibrant part of our existing campus footprint. We are excited that their presence on our campus ensures they will be available for future generations to visit and learn from.”
The restoration of Greene Hall will ensure continued viability for future Muleriders. Beginning summer 2025 renovations to the bathrooms, reinforcement of the porch structure, and removal and replacement of the concrete porch and treads will be underway. The approximately 120 single-pane windows in Greene’s rooms and walkways will be replaced with energy efficient, double-pane glass, completing the renovation.
Built in the early 1960s, Greene Hall is a co-ed “pod-style” dormitory with three three-story wings. It was named in honor of Lake Greene, the long-time physical plant director at the time who supervised significant campus construction projects. Greene left SAU (then Southern State College) in 1963 to become Columbia County Judge. The 37,329 square foot residence hall boasts a modernistic design on the northern side of campus with most of its 190 residents participating in the Living Greene and First Year Experience Living Learning Communities, Mulerider baseball, and men’s track and cross-country. On March 13, 2023, Greene, Talley, and Talbot Halls were added to the National Register of Historic Places, which made this grant possible.
