Trustees approve new academic building, residence hall renovation
WESTVILLE, Ind. - The Purdue University board of trustees on Friday (April 9) approved construction contracts for a hospitality and tourism management academic building and for renovating a historic residence hall.
Kettelhut Construction Inc. of Lafayette, Ind., gained the contract to build the $12.2 million Marriott Hall. The 40,000-square-foot building was designed by CSO Architects of Indianapolis to upgrade all areas of Purdue's hospitality programs. Plans for the new facility include a restaurant demonstration classroom that will seat more than 100 students, several new laboratories, a career center, a student services area and reception space.
Dennis A. Savaiano, dean of the College of Consumer and Family Sciences, said the hospitality and tourism management department intends to maintain its status as one of the leading programs in the field worldwide.
"This facility will create an open, flexible and service-oriented space consistent with the needs of guests," Savaiano said. "It will clearly communicate that the department is both an academic agency and an important part of the industry."
Marriott Hall will be located between State and First streets on the university's west side. The trustees' Physical Facilities Committee on Thursday (April 8) approved the purchase of that property. Four houses owned by the Purdue Research Foundation are now on the site and slated for demolition. Plans call for materials from these houses to be recycled.
Construction is scheduled to begin later this month with an occupancy date of September 2011. Marriott Hall will be built largely from gifts, with $3.7 million coming from the capital reserve for buildings. The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation made the $5 million lead gift to construct Marriott Hall.
Trustees, meeting on the Purdue North Central campus, also approved awarding a construction contract for the $9 million renovation of Warren Hall at the historic Windsor Residence Halls to Kettelhut Construction Inc. Phase IV of the Windsor Hall project continues the process of bringing each of the five halls up to current building codes, improving accessibility, enhancing fire protection, replacing electrical and mechanical systems, replacing the passenger elevator, and upgrading the bathroom facilities. Historic architectural features will be restored and preserved. Each room also will receive air conditioning.
"Renovating our oldest women's residence halls underscores our commitment to maintaining Purdue tradition and keeping our students safe," said John A. Sautter, vice president for housing and food services. "It also highlights that we are listening to and meeting contemporary student expectations in an era when every student has multiple housing options."
The renovations will occur during the 2010-2011 academic year and be financed with Student Facilities Systems Revenue Bonds. The trustees also voted to approve an increased authorization of $6.6 million to accommodate the cost of final Phase V renovations beginning in 2011.
Purdue University Residences is a completely self-sufficient operation that does not draw on the university's general fund or tax revenue. It is the largest on-campus housing program in the nation that does not require any students to live on campus.
Writer: Jim Schenke, 765-494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Dennis Savaiano, 765-494-8210, savaiano@purdue.edu
John Sautter, 765-494-1000, jasautter@purdue.edu