Ball State's newest residence hall was dedicated Friday, honoring the man who oversaw development of campus's most well-known landmarks.

"As individual projects are completed, they begin to accumulate the impact, thus providing a critical mass of change and improvement that eventually becomes very recognizable," Tom Kinghorn, former vice president of Business Affairs, said during the ceremony.

His wife, Nancy Kinghorn, their children and other extended family came to celebrate with him.

"He deserves it," Nancy said. "He's worked hard to earn this."

During his tenure, Kinghorn oversaw construction of the Alumni Center, Art and Journalism Building, David Letterman Communication and Media Building, Park Hall, Worthen Arena and several other iconic buildings.

Thomas J. Kinghorn Hall was designed with environmental sustainability in mind. It was built to LEED certification standards from the U.S. Green Building Council, and it includes two "bioswales," a landscape element designed to remove pollution from runoff rainwater. The hall includes a Tom John Food Shop, a music practice room with two recording areas, and semiprivate bathrooms. It is home to about 600 students.

During the ceremony, President Jo Ann Gora said that when Park Hall was dedicated in 2007, it had been 38 years since the university had constructed a new residence hall.

"Our living learning community sorely needed updating," she said. "Park Hall and DeHority Hall set a new standard for that living-learning structure we are trying to create."

Kinghorn said his favorite part about the new residence hall is the panoramic views that are created from the lounge areas, including views of Shafer Tower, Neely Avenue and the garden area in the center of the building.

"These vantage points make being in this building especially inviting," he said.

Kinghorn served as vice president of Business Affairs for 29 years before stepping down in 2009 and played a big role in helping design the building. He now serves part time as the executive assistant to the president for commercialization and community engagement.

Before Kinghorn Hall was built, the northeastern side of campus was a vibrant community and the home to several faculty members, Gora said during her speech.

Mark Ervin, a local attorney, knew this well. The house where he grew up stood right where the multipurpose room is now, which is where the dedication took place.

"It's really beautiful," he said. "They did a great job with landscaping insight."

Ervin said his house was probably the last one the university bought out. His mother was in her late 80s when she moved out four years ago. His father, Ben Ervin, was a faculty member for almost 30 years. He passed away about three years ago.

Kinghorn never got to experience life in the residence halls when he went to Ball State, but he said he's excited for this new improvement to the living-learning community. After all, that's where he met his wife. She was a resident assistant in Rogers Hall in Johnson Complex when they met.

Share