SMU staff members are settling into their new offices off campus inside Expressway Tower. The 15-story office building at the corner of North Central Expressway and Yale Boulevard was acquired by SMU in January 2006. Renovations began in the winter of 2006, and the first offices were moved to the building this summer.
“We were squeezed for space in Perkins Administration,” director of real estate William Nemeth said.
The building, which was built in 1968, has served other purposes in past years. Expressway Tower is the former home of the Dallas Cowboys and a Playboy Club.
Human Resources was the first department to make the move out of Perkins Administration Building and across Highway 75. It was followed by Payroll, Tax Compliance, Accounts Payable and Purchasing. SMU’s business offices permanently relocated to the second floor of the office building.
Available office space can also be used to temporarily house offices displaced by renovations or construction. Development and External Affairs for Perkins School of Theology temporarily relocated to the fourth floor of Expressway Tower. Its offices were located in Perkins Auditorium in Selecman Hall, and will be torn down for the construction of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, a new theology building. Director of development for Perkins School of Theology Todd Rasberry said he expects to be back on campus in two years.
SMU’s offices currently occupy the entire second floor, a suite of theology offices on the fourth floor and the entire eleventh floor. The eleventh floor is being reserved for future use as psychology research facilities and education department offices next year.
“Besides allowing the university to expand the campus, it brings money into the university,” Nemeth said.
Unused or unreserved office space is available for lease by private companies. When Dr. Sumi Helal accepted a teaching position from the Computer Science and Engineering Department, he moved out of state and he brought is business with him. His small business, Pervasa, is now located on the ninth floor of Expressway Tower, Nemeth said.
“We’re always looking at property that butts-up against the university,” he said.
SMU also snatched up the property directly behind the Expressway Tower, previously occupied by Jack’s Pub. The university also owns a dilapidated cinema located just to the south of what used to be Jack’s Pub. Demolition of the cinema is scheduled for November, and construction is expected to follow in January of 2008. The property behind Expressway Tower is now serving as staff parking for the relocated office staff and for overflow parking on game days.
Park ‘N Pony altered the Pony Express route to serve the east campus. The bus makes stops at the Expressway Tower every 20 minutes.
