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November 16, 2007
Purdue to renovate in residence halls, streamline renovation financing
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's board of trustees on Friday (Nov. 16) approved planning for a $16.2 million renovation to Harrison Residence Hall and a resolution that would allow authorized university officials to temporarily borrow up to $50 million to advance future physical facilities improvements.University Residences will install a new sprinkler system throughout Harrison Hall and upgrade the fire alarm system. Air conditioning will be installed in all student rooms. Closets and window sills also will be upgraded. Doors also may be upgraded.
John A. Sautter, vice president for housing and food services, said the project is part of University Residences ongoing master plan to modernize its entire housing inventory to ensure that on-campus housing remains a safe and attractive option for decades to come.
During its meeting at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, the board also approved contracting BSA LifeStructures of Indianapolis to provide $1 million in architectural services for the project. Construction is scheduled to take place in three phases during the summers of 2009, 2010 and 2011. University Residences repair and rehabilitation funds, generated from user fees, will pay for the work, and no tax dollars or university general fund money will be used.
The board's authorization for a temporary borrowing program will enable the short-term financing of smaller projects until permanent financing is issued at a later date through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. The program would be established for a 10-year period and have a limit of $50 million outstanding at any time. The temporary financing is authorized by state law to be used for projects such as academic buildings and facilities, repair and rehabilitation, recreational facilities, support and research facilities, and qualified energy savings efforts.
"Some capital projects, because of their timing, size or phasing, are more efficient and cost-effective to finance through a temporary commercial paper borrowing program," said Morgan R. Olsen, executive vice president and treasurer.
The university plans to utilize the temporary borrowing program primarily for repair and rehabilitation projects that have been approved or are in the planning stages for the future.
On Thursday (Nov. 15) the board's Physical Facilities Committee advanced plans to conduct renovations inside two other residential facilities.
The committee approved awarding a $4.45 million contract to completely renovate the ninth and 10th floors of Young Hall to convert student residential space into offices and conference rooms. New fire-suppression systems will be added to seven Young Hall floors, completing the upgrading of fire suppression for the entire building. Also, three elevators will be modernized and made more accessible to the disabled.
J.R. Kelly Co. Inc. of Lafayette, Ind., received the contract. Work is scheduled to begin in December and be complete by December 2008. At least 75 percent of the construction costs will be paid from departmental repair and rehabilitation funds, with the remaining being covered by university and state-appropriated repair and rehabilitation funds.
The committee also approved planning for a $3.2 million renovation of the Hillenbrand Residence Hall Dining Court. When built in 1993, the hall had the most modern food service facility on campus, but that is no longer the case, Sautter said, due to University Residences' multiyear effort to consolidate and upgrade all of its dining facilities.
The renovated dining court will improve customer movement, reconfigure portions of food-serving areas, modernize aesthetics in the dining rooms and add public restrooms.
"Our most recent renovations have earned national awards, improved customer satisfaction, and increased student participation in our meal plans," said Barbara Frazee, executive director of University Residences. "We expect the new Hillenbrand dining court to augment campus life just as successfully."
Scholer Corp. of Lafayette, Ind., received the design contract. All work will be paid for with University Residences repair and rehabilitation funds generated from user fees.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Morgan R. Olsen, (765) 494-9705, mrolsen@purdue.edu
John A. Sautter, (765) 494-1022, jasautter@purdue.edu
Barbara Frazee, (765) 494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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