Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 27, 2001 $16 million building to become alumni, development centerWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A new $16 million building approved by the Purdue University Board of Trustees will become home to the Purdue Alumni Association and University Development Office, as well as a showcase for university achievements. "This alumni center is going to be, we hope, a destination for alumni – a ‘wow’ facility – where alumni will want to come and enjoy time together," Larry Preo, the alumni association's executive director, said today (Thursday, 9/27). In April the trustees approved building the three-story, 67,000-square-foot center and retained CSO Architects and L'Acquis Consulting Enterprise (LACE) Inc. for architectural services. J. Beard Management Inc. will provide construction management services. Groundbreaking at the site, the parking lot on the southwest corner of Grant and Wood streets, is set for February, with a target building completion date in late 2003 or early 2004. The center's first floor is being designed as an inviting and comfortable gathering place for alumni reunions and meetings, Preo said. The first floor also will feature a "Gallery of Memories," a changeable showcase for Purdue history and alumni achievements, which might include exhibitions displaying astronaut and Amelia Earhart memorabilia, Purdue's role in national agricultural accomplishments, other famous alumni and athletic team triumphs. There also will be a catering kitchen and dining facilities to accommodate groups of up to 75 people. The Purdue Alumni Association now occupies 4,900 square feet on the main floor of the Purdue Memorial Union. The move will double the association’s office space and also provide access to shared conference and meeting room space with the University Development Office. Currently, university development offices are located in Hovde Hall, Purdue Memorial Union, the terminal building at the Purdue Airport and a residence hall. The new alumni center building will be designed to centralize all Purdue's fund-raising activities, including work with donors and volunteers, managing the development and alumni database, and the related gift-processing system. Plans have not been made yet for the space the alumni association will vacate in the Union. "The Board of Directors of the Purdue Alumni Association voted in favor of this move," Preo said. "There are compelling reasons for us to do this – the first being that this building is going to be a destination for visiting alumni, and we’ve wanted to offer that to alumni for a long time." Senior Vice President for Advancement Murray M. Blackwelder will oversee efforts to raise the $4 million still needed for the building. The trustees authorized university officials to request $12 million to help fund the project. The remaining funds are being raised from private donations. "We will help by making alumni aware that they can help build their new home base at Purdue," Preo said. "We hope that alumni will step forward who can help us finish this project. We would be thrilled to be able to name the building for a generous donor who would like to help finalize the project." The Purdue Alumni Association, with more than 68,000 members, is one of just 18 associations in the country that are completely self-supporting. There are more than 325,000 Purdue alumni living throughout the world. Writer: Grant Flora, (765) 494-2073; gflora@purdue.edu Source: Lawrence S. Preo, (765) 494-5179; lspreo@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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