Construction and Renovation on Campus

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January 17, 1989

Construction and Renovation on Campus

West Lafayette, Ind. -- Purdue University's Board of Trustees Tuesday (1/17) accepted bids totaling more than $12.7 million for construction and renovation projects on the West Lafayette campus.

Among the projects is a new indoor practice field and weight training facility, a relighting project for the Mackey Arena basketball floor, and foundation work for a new fountain on the Purdue Mall.

The board accepted bids for the $9.3 million indoor practice facility. A general construction contract totaling $6,289,000 was awarded to Hagerman Construction Co., Fort Wayne. A mechanical construction contract in the amount of $519,200 went to Grunau Co. Inc., Indianapolis. Hyre Electric Co. of Indiana, Highland, Ind., received an electrical construction contract totaling $754,700. The sheet metal construction contract went to A to Z Sheet Metal, Lafayette, in the amount of $145,700.

Additional costs, such as architect fees, soil borings, sewer work and installation of the playing field, bring the total project to the budgeted amount of $9.3 million.

"We will have a state-of-the-art building to put our athletic facilities on a level with any school in the country," said Frederick R. Ford, executive vice president and treasurer.

Ford said no state funds will be used for the project. The entire cost will be paid from gift funds and athletic department earnings.

The building will serve a variety of purposes, said George S. King, director of intercollegiate athletics. In addition to having an all-weather football practice field and weight-training room, the building will be available for use by the baseball team, marching band, cheerleaders and other groups.

Abell-Baker Electric Inc., Louisville, Ky., will relight the Mackey Arena basketball floor. The total project budget will be $268,000, with gift and athletic department funds used to pay for the project.

"We need more candlepower to attract national TV," said Gene Keady, the men's head basketball coach.

The relighting also will help get Mackey Arena crowds more involved in games, Keady said, because it will include additional lighting of the stands. He said the project also will enhance Boilermaker basketball recruiting efforts.

Kenneth Smock Associates Inc., Indianapolis, will do foundation work for the new fountain on the Purdue Mall at a total project cost of $130,000. Ford said the project will be the centerpiece of the mall in front of Hovde Hall when completed. The mall, now undergoing reconstruction, will be a vehicle-free, pedestrian-oriented area in the heart of campus.

Kettelhut Construction Inc., Lafayette, submitted the winning bid for foundation and substructure work on expansion of the Wade Utility Plant (the south power plant). 1987 bonding authority funds will be used for the project, whose total cost is $2,638,000, Ford said.

Also approved was a $145,000 cooling-tower repair project at the utility plant, with the contract awarded to Tower Performance Inc., Fairfield, N.J.

The trustees awarded J.R. Kelly Co. Inc., West Lafayette, a contract to renovate some laboratory areas in Lynn Hall. The total project budget is $238,000.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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