October 8, 2007

Purdue to celebrate $153 million in new facilities; dedicate Neil Armstrong Hall

"Purdue is really reaching for the stars for this fall celebration," said Murray Blackwelder, senior vice president for advancement. "We are especially excited that as many as 15 of the university's astronaut alumni will join in the dedication of the new $53 million Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering during Homecoming weekend. And, at last, Purdue's world-acclaimed structural biology group also will break ground on a new home."

All the building projects received funds from the $1.7 billion Campaign for Purdue, which ended June 30. The events follow:

* Friday, Oct. 19: Purdue will break ground at 2:30 p.m. for the new Wayne T. and Mary T. Hockmeyer Hall of Structural Biology, located adjacent to Discovery Park at Harrison Street and Martin Jischke Drive. The $30 million, 65,690-square-foot building will provide space for Purdue's Markey Center for Structural Biology research group. The group currently is housed in the basement of Lilly Hall.

* Monday, Oct. 22: The Krannert School of Management will announce a major gift.

* Wednesday, Oct. 24: Purdue will celebrate the success of fundraising for an addition to the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building. The $6.6 million project will add 18,200 square feet, providing a larger, modern learning facility for future pilots, airline managers, aeronautical technologists and others pursuing careers in the aviation industry. The event will take place at 11 a.m. at the future site of the building, which is next to the existing aviation technology building at the Purdue University Airport.

* Thursday, Oct. 25: At 4 p.m., Purdue will celebrate the completion of fundraising for a new $33 million state-of-the-art wing to the university's Mechanical Engineering Building in the heart of campus. The Roger B. Gatewood Mechanical Engineering Wing will add 44,000 square feet to the Mechanical Engineering Building, increasing its space by 55 percent. The building will include flexible classroom areas and a number of laboratories.

* Friday, Oct. 26: At 10 a.m., the public is invited to the unveiling of a bronze sculpture of alumnus Neil Armstrong, the first person to step foot on the moon. The 8-foot-tall statue depicts Armstrong as a college student and is accompanied by a trail of sculpted moonboot impressions. It will be located in front of the new Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, located at Stadium and Northwestern avenues. The donor and the artist will take part in the event. The time of the unveiling is pending.

In a nearby trailer, a NASA exhibit called "Vision for Space Exploration Experience" will begin its five-day show. It will be open to the general public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, with priority given to youth groups that preregister; and 3-7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

For details, visit https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2007b/070918CelArmstrong
Exhibit.html

More than 800 alumni and friends will join 15 of Purdue's astronaut alumni for dinner at 7 p.m. in Lambert Fieldhouse. NASA's top official, Michael D. Griffin, is expected to speak.

The nighttime Homecoming parade starts at 8 p.m. at Third and Russell streets and heads to Slayter Center, just north of Stadium Avenue. The parade will be followed by a 9:30 p.m. pep rally and fireworks. For more information about these and other Homecoming-related activities, see https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2007b/071003Cerny
Homecoming.html

* Saturday, Oct. 27: The public is invited to the 10 a.m. dedication of Purdue's new $53.2 million Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering. Armstrong and other Purdue astronaut alumni will be present. Neil Armstrong Hall houses the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, School of Materials Engineering, Department of Engineering Education, and several engineering programs, including the Minority Engineering Program, Women in Engineering Program and Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS. A link to a live Webcast of the dedication will be available on the Purdue home page at https://www.purdue.edu

* Monday, Oct. 29: A new $11.5 million Purdue facility aimed at fostering research on families, aging and leadership will move one step closer to reality with a ceremony to celebrate the success of fundraising efforts. The Bill and Sally Hanley Hall will house the Human Development Institute, which will include programs and centers from the College of Consumer and Family Sciences and the Purdue Center for Aging and the Life Course. The 4 p.m. celebration for Hanley Hall will follow a 2:30 p.m. faculty lecture in the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, located at State Street and Martin Jischke Drive near Fowler House.

* Tuesday, Oct. 30: Purdue will celebrate the success of fundraising for the new $12 million Marriott Hall to house its top-ranked Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The building, to be located at the northwest corner of State and University streets, will provide space to upgrade all areas of Purdue's hospitality programs, including its undergraduate offerings. The celebration will start at 11 a.m. at the building site.

* Wednesday, Oct. 31: The 20,000-square-foot Beck Agricultural Center will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m. at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education on U.S. 52, located about seven miles northwest of the West Lafayette campus. The $5.2 million building will provide facilities for educational opportunities for all ages. It contains space for classes, meetings, hands-on demonstrations and research.

Writer: Jeanne Norberg, (765) 494-2084, jnorberg@purdue.edu

Source: Murray Blackwelder, (765) 496-2144, mblackwelder@purdue.edu

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

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