Purdue News
Purdue NewsNovember 21, 1997
Bank One, the Caterpillar Foundation, Eli Lilly and Co. Tippecanoe Laboratories, and State Farm Insurance Cos. made the investment in the center and will have a conference room named in their honor, Renee Thomas, director of the center, announced.
"The support from the business community is wonderful," Thomas said. "Local businesses, in turn, will have the opportunity to use the Black Cultural Center for recruiting prospective employees and for welcoming staff members to the Greater Lafayette community. These gifts also will enhance students' educational experiences at Purdue."
The two-story, 18,000-square-foot Black Cultural Center will be built at the corner of Third and Russell streets. The new center will be almost twice the size of the current Black Cultural Center, a nearly 100-year-old building that was dedicated in 1970.
"The new facility will guarantee an environment for students at Purdue to experience and enjoy their cultural heritage," Joseph H. Seaman, president of Bank One, said. "We are proud to support the Black Cultural Center."
The new center will feature a domed central area containing a lounge and reading room. Other main rooms will include an expanded art and gallery space, a computer laboratory, more storage and rehearsal areas for the center's four performing arts ensembles, and office space for student organizations such as the Black Greek Council.
Designed by Blackburn Architects of Indianapolis, which used traditional African design elements, the center will draw on geometric patterns and rough, natural textures for walls and other surfaces to incorporate textures and materials typically found in African villages.
Construction is slated to begin in the spring; completion is scheduled for fall of 1999.
The center serves about 35,000 people each year through its performing arts ensembles, speaker series, tours and other programs.
The university is providing the land and a $1 million challenge grant toward the $3 million in gifts needed to build the new center. Purdue also has agreed to provide an estimated $150,000 in fund-raising expenses. The $1 million comes from unrestricted gift money, given by contributors for use by the president for the betterment of Purdue.
CONTACTS: Thomas, (765) 494-3091; Seaman, (765) 423-0300
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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