September 23, 2005
Purdue moves forward on construction of new buildings at IPFW, WL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Board of Trustees today (Friday, Sept. 23) approved the planning or construction of several buildings at the West Lafayette and Fort Wayne campuses.
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A $23.3 million contract was approved for Fetters Construction Inc. of Auburn, Ind. to build a new music building at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. When completed, the building will house the Department of Music in a 103,000-square-foot facility that includes a 1,600-seat auditorium and a 250-seat recital hall.
"The new music building will be a community asset serving IPFW's 11-county service region through exceptional academic degree programs and music concerts, festivals and camps, and distinguished lecturers and presenters from myriad disciplines," said Benjamin C. Christy, dean of visual and performing arts. "IPFW's utilization of this building, which we will share with several nonprofit groups, will have wide-ranging impact on the citizens of northeast Indiana."
IPFW also received the green light to begin planning its new Student Services and Library Complex, one of five key projects in its 10-year capital improvement plan. Architectural firm BSA LifeStructures of Indianapolis will design the proposed 170,000-square-foot, $40 million facility, which will create a focal point for academic and recreational activity and student services.
"This project represents an outstanding opportunity to augment and integrate student life, reshaping the core of a strong, growing campus," said Morgan R. Olsen, Purdue executive vice president and treasurer. "This complex is a key component of the IPFW strategic plan."
The state already has provided funds for planning the complex. The university anticipates the state will pay for $30 million in construction costs, with the remainder coming from gifts and facilities reserve funds.
The trustees approved the award of a $5.88 million construction contract to Kettlehut Construction Inc. of Lafayette, Ind., to build the Dennis J. and Mary Lou Schwartz Tennis Center on the West Lafayette campus. The 56,000-square-foot facility, which will be funded by gifts, will include six indoor courts, six outdoor courts, a viewing gallery, offices, lounges, locker and training rooms, and a 60-space parking area.
"This facility will be as fine as any in the Big Ten and will help Purdue recruit and train some of the nation's finest athletic talent," said Intercollegiate Athletics director Morgan J. Burke. "This new ingredient to campus life will also provide abundant recreational and fitness opportunities for students, staff and faculty as well as the community at large."
Construction is slated to be finished in November 2006.
J.R. Kelly Construction Inc. of Lafayette gained the contract to rebuild the Aquaculture Research and Education Center, located on a Purdue-owned animal sciences research farm west of the West Lafayette campus, near Montmorenci, Ind. The building was destroyed by fire last November.
The facility's 12 ponds are home to thousands of fish including shrimp, salmon, trout, perch and bass. Researchers there study fish nutrition, including the use of soybean meal feed. They also are expanding their research into genetics, toxicology and fisheries management. The replacement building, which is expected to cost $2.66 million, is being paid for by insurance. Construction is scheduled to begin on Oct. 1 and be complete in April.
The trustees also approved planning for an addition to the Aviation Technology Academic Building. Including renovations to the building, the 14,000-square-foot project is expected to cost $6 million, which will be paid for by gifts. The addition will include new classrooms, offices, conference rooms and lounges for one of the nation's first aviation technology programs, which is housed at the country's first university-owned airport.
In other business:
The trustees increased the authorized expenditures for an addition to the McCutcheon Drive Parking Garage from $12.5 million to $16.7 million and awarded the construction contract to Weigand Construction Co. of Fort Wayne, Ind. Housing and Food Service funds will be used for the project that will add 1,100 parking spaces to compensate for the loss of spaces due to construction elsewhere on the West Lafayette campus.
The trustees voted to authorize the $2 million replacement of a 2,000-ton chiller at the IPFW central plant. The 31-year-old chiller is currently inoperable. Electrical and pumping systems will be changed at the plant and nine buildings it serves to improve operation.
J.R. Kelly was awarded a $555,600 contract to build a landscaped plaza to enhance the entrance of the new Pao Hall for Visual and Performing Arts at the West Lafayette campus. Gifts and departmental funds will pay for the work.
J.R. Kelly will renovate the third floor of Hovde Hall, including space for the vice president for research and support staff, on the West Lafayette campus. The $745,000 project will be paid for from departmental funds.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Morgan R. Olsen, 494-9705, mrolsen@purdue.edu
Morgan J. Burke, (765) 494-3189, mjb@purdue.edu
Wayne Kjonaas, vice president for physical facilities, (765) 494-8000, wwkjonaas@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web site:
Physical facilities
PHOTO CAPTION:
When complete in late 2006, the 56,000-square-foot Dennis J. and Mary Lou Schwartz Tennis Center will include 12 tennis courts, giving Purdue University Athletics a national-caliber training and competition facility while adding new recreational and fitness opportunities for the West Lafayette campus and surrounding community.
A publication-quality graphic is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/schwartz-tennisrender.jpg
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