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| * Purdue Aviation Technology |
| * Purdue Board of Trustees |
December 15, 2007
Trustees approve contract for new aviation tech building
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University board of trustees on Saturday (Dec. 15) approved awarding a $5.7 million construction contract to build the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building at the university's airport.Kettlehut Construction Inc. of Lafayette, Ind., will build the 18,200-square-foot extension to an aviation education building that dates to 1934. The new wing will include a lobby, offices, conference rooms, a student lounge, classrooms, lecture rooms and a computer laboratory.
The board also approved a request to increase the authorization for the entire project from $6.6 million to $7.8 million, in large part due to shoring required to protect the existing building foundation, a custom air-handling system and improvements to the building's telecommunications system.
Dennis Depew, dean of the College of Technology, said the building will provide a larger, modern learning facility for future pilots, airline managers, aeronautical technologists and others pursuing careers in the aviation industry.
"The U.S. Department of Labor has forecasted a 9 to 17 percent increase in employment opportunities within the aviation industry by 2014," Depew said. "The Department of Aviation Technology is at the forefront of the aviation industry, and the new building and upgrade of the current facility ensures both a high-quality learning experience for our students and a well-equipped work force for the industry."
Construction is expected to begin in February 2008 and be completed during summer 2009. Private gifts are funding the expansion. Lead donor Scott Niswonger, a 1968 Purdue graduate from Greeneville, Tenn., has donated $5.2 million to the project.
Purdue first offered aviation education in 1911. Amelia Earhart's last plane was outfitted at the current aviation technology building in 1937.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: Dennis Depew, (765) 494-2552, ddepew@purdue.edu
Joseph D. Mikesell, vice president for physical facilities, (765) 494-7327, jdmikesell@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to journalists: A 3-D virtual tour of the new building and video of Dean Dennis Depew discussing the building are available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2007b/071024CelAVTec.html
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