Purdue News

February 4, 2000 Purdue trustees OK expansion of WBAA, contracts WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Board of Trustees today (Friday, 2/4) approved a $1.5 million plan to nearly double the size of WBAA-AM/FM studios and offices in the basement of the Elliott Hall of Music. The trustees also awarded a contract for interior work on the new Facilities Services Building and extended a 1998 job order contract. The WBAA project not only will increase studio space but also will renovate existing offices and work areas. "The present facility was built in the early 1940s for a single AM station of that era," explained Richard O. Forsythe, director of the Division of Instructional Services, which oversees operations at WBAA. "Today we are operating two stations in the same amount of space, and it really limits our ability to provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff and members of the community to be involved." The proposed plans call for WBAA to expand into a room adjacent to its studios that is currently being used for storage. The renovation will create new studios with state-of-the-art sound isolation, noise and vibration control, and acoustics. Funding will be provided through the Special Projects Reserve Fund and unrestricted gifts and grants. In other business, the trustees: •  Awarded a $2.5 million contract to Kettelhut Construction Inc. of Lafayette to complete the interior work for the Facility Services Building off Ahlers Road at the south edge of campus. This is the final phase of the project to relocate operations housed in the Service Building on the corner of South University Street and Service Drive. Kettelhut will finish interiors for the electric, electronic, elevator, tool crib, painting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, and plumbing and steamfitting shops. •  Approved a second extension of a 1998 job order contract with F.H. Paschen of Des Plaines, Ill. The contract provides a wide range of standard construction and renovation services for facilities on the West Lafayette campus. To date, 63 projects with a total value of nearly $6.9 million have been awarded through the contract. Source: Richard O. Forsythe, (765) 494-5101 Writer: Sharon Bowker, (765) 494-9723, sbowker@purdue.edu Additional source: Wayne Kjonaas, vice president for physical facilities, (765) 494-8000, wwkjonaas@physfac.purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page