Thursday, July 30, 2026
Engineerbehind Hilltopper Hall settles for under$1 million
WKU’s Student Life Foundation settled with the engineering firm responsible forHilltopperHall, the $40 million dorm opened in 2018 that had to be torn down because of design and construction flaws, for less than $1 million.
S.E. Engineering agreed to pay $939,995 in a July 2025 settlement over HilltopperHall, according to documents signed by S.E. Engineering President Donald Stoneburg and Executive Directorof Housing and Residence Life Cathrine LaRoche. S.E. Engineering also worked on Normal and Regents halls. Hilltopper Hall could not exceed $1.5 million to demolish.
WKU signs contract with new dorm managers
WKU has turned overdorm management and maintenance to Delawarebased companyWGB Property Management, doing business as Inwood Management.
Inwood Management was brought toWKU as part of the new publicprivate partnership adopted by WKU following the failure of Normal, Regents and Hilltopper halls. Inwood Management was brought in by Gilbane, the private company WKU hired to head the new dorm model.
Construction workers tear down Hilltopper Hall on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 after it closed in 2024 due to structural issues. (Josh Baumgardner)
Read more byAnthony Clauson
Construction equipment begins on the smaller right half of Douglas Keen on June 24, 2026, after entirely removing the lobby. (Josh Baumgardner)
Douglas Keen demolition nears completion, Hugh Poland teardown underway
“Forus, by us”: Celebrating the Black
Experience exhibit visitsWKU
Some of the pieces part of the traveling Celebrating the Black Experience exhibit, currently housed at the Kentucky Museum, on July 21, 2026. (DiegoAlcaraz-Monje)
Forthe next two days, the Kentucky Museum will be home to the vibrant paintings and intricate textile work that make up an exhibit entitled Celebrating the Black Experience.
Put togetherby the Kentucky Center forAfricanAmerican Heritage, the fifth Celebrating the Black Experience exhibit displays and uplifts a large range of artwork by Black artists. The work of 23 participating artists is currently being shown across the Commonwealth through a traveling exhibit, on display at the Kentucky Museum from July 1 toAug. 1.
See more by DiegoAlcaraz-Monje The College Heights Herald is the independent, student-run news organization operating on the campus of Western Kentucky University, emphasizing accuracy and truth while being a public forum for the fair display of diverse opinions and viewpoints. The Herald works to be steadfast and unwavering in its pursuit of truth while being true to the tenets of the WKU Student
Construction workers chip away at the remaining infrastructure for Douglas Keen Hall on July 28, 2026. (Josh Baumgardner)
See more by Josh Baumgardner
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