Trustees approve lab renovation, real estate transaction and dining contract

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (Dec. 12) gave approval to plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts to renovate the first floor of the Roberts Impact Lab under development by Purdue University Northwest in downtown Hammond, Indiana. The project includes a complete interior demolition, renovation and repurposing of approximately 13,000 square feet of a former hospital facility into a new innovation hub.

To support planned innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization activities, the renovation will include quantum and STEM-related labs and multiple collaboration spaces, along with updating the lobby. Through the project, the Roberts Impact Lab will be transformed into the state of Indiana’s first facility directly linked to the Quantum Corridor, a quantum-ready communication network that would be among the fastest and most secure in the world. It will expand the university’s opportunities in applied research while also aiding workforce and regional economic development in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; artificial intelligence; and cybersecurity fields.

Work is scheduled to begin in September 2026 and be completed in June 2027. The estimated cost of $10 million will be financed by operating funds — reserves ($7.5 million) and gift funds ($2.5 million).

In other action, trustees approved both the purchase of land from and ground lease to Delta Gamma sorority. Purdue will buy 0.36 acres of land at 303 Waldron St. and 0.14 acres of land at 401 Waldron St., in West Lafayette, from Delta Gamma. Land owned by the university at 500 N. Russell St. and 503 Waldron St. will be ground leased at market rate for a period of 40 years to Delta Gamma, which intends to build a new sorority house.

These transactions ensure that Delta Gamma maintains a near-campus presence — creating vibrancy and positive student life impacts in the north Waldron neighborhood — and allows the university to own property at an important strategic location that aligns with the Giant Leaps campus master plan. Student housing will remain intact for sorority members while the new residence is constructed.

Additionally, trustees approved contracting with existing vendor and caterer Fresh Ideas Management LLC to expand dining services at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Beginning in fall 2026, a fourth dining location — open to all students, faculty, staff and community members — will provide services closer to campus housing. Under terms of the new contract, Fresh Ideas will provide an upfront capital investment to equip the new dining location and update equipment at the three existing locations.

Dining at PFW has expanded beyond lunch services to meet growing demand in recent years and in response to the decision to offer a meal plan with all campus housing contracts. Beginning in 2026-27, weekly meals under the plan will increase to four. The contract defines terms for up to 10½ years of service from Fresh Ideas. Annual costs are projected to be $3 million in the agreement’s first full year and will be funded by dining and catering revenue.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.