Purdue News

Purdue trustees approve construction

The trustees authorized the completion of three construction projects. Construction on all three began after the Indiana General Assembly approved a major portion of the debt funding in 1995. The state lawmakers approved the remainder of the funding authorizations this month. The board today authorized spending:

• $10.5 million to complete the $38.5 million Food Science/Biotechnology Complex on the West Lafayette campus and renovate space vacated in Smith Hall, after the Department of Food Science moves to the new complex. With the additional funds, Purdue will upgrade electrical and cooling systems and renovate greenhouses south of Lilly Hall of Life Sciences; renovate Lilly and Horticulture greenhouse headhouses; and build an electrical substation to serve the new and renovated buildings.

• $1.8 million at Purdue Calumet to finish the $17.2 million Classroom/Office Building and renovate some of the space that will be vacated in Lawshe Hall and the Gyte Building when the new building is completed.

• $6.58 million to complete the $24.6 million Science Building at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and renovate space in Kettler Hall that will be vacated when the new building is completed in spring 1998.

The board also approved two other projects authorized by the 1997 General Assembly:

• $8 million to renovate Purdue Calumet's Anderson Building. Asbestos must be removed from the building, which was constructed in 1969. Construction will begin in September 1998. Faculty and staff who work in the Anderson Building will move temporarily to the new Classroom/Office Building.

• $16.2 million for the first of five phases to upgrade and expand the Wade Utility Plant. All but $250,000 will be paid through issuance of bonds; the remaining amount is covered by a $250,000 grant from the Gas Research Institute.

The trustees also authorized spending for several building renovation projects on the West Lafayette campus, including:

• $2.5 million for teaching and research laboratories in Lilly Hall of Life Sciences.

• $1.3 million for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in Heine Pharmacy Building.

• $900,000 for labs on the third floor of the Civil Engineering Building.

Sources: Frederick Ford, executive vice president and treasurer, (765) 494-9705
Thomas Schmenk, director of facilities planning and construction, (765) 494-8003
Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg, (765) 494-2084; e-mail, jeanne_norberg@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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