Mississippi State University plans facility for autism program, kinesiology department

Mississippi State University plans to build a 100,000-square-foot facility on the Oktibbeha County campus that will house the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic, Disability Resource Center and Department of Kinesiology

The Jim and Thomas Duff Center will provide offices, classrooms and laboratories that will enable the university to increase hands-on training in the areas of physical and developmental disabilities, and kinesiology.

Brothers Jim and Tommy Duff, owners of Duff Capital Investors, have given the university $15 million for the facility.

The center will be built at the campus core near the university's Drill Field. Its footprint and adjacent quadrangle will replace McCarthy Gymnasium, which now is the home of the Department of Kinesiology.

“With the establishment of The Jim and Thomas Duff Center, Jim and Tommy have forever changed the landscape of support for individuals with disabilities in the state of Mississippi,” says Dan Gadke, associate dean for research in the College of Education. “Not only will this center serve to support direct interventions and long-term life outcomes for individuals with a wide variety of needs, but it will also offer a lifeline for families, professionals, educators and trainees throughout our state.” 

Construction slated to begin in 2023.

The architects are Eley Guild Hardy Architects and Dale Partners.