April 11, 2008

Trustees approve 10-year capital plan, Mackey Arena renovations

New Mackey Arena Complex
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The trustees also approved construction of the Mackey Arena complex renovation and addition, and a new Wade Power Plant boiler and awarded construction contracts to build the Discovery Learning Center and renovate Duhme Hall, phase two in the ongoing Windsor Halls renovation project. In addition, the trustees approved planning for additional student housing at the Fort Wayne campus and increased funding for renovations to McCutcheon Hall on the West Lafayette campus.

The 10-year capital plan includes all new projects planned beginning in July 2009. The plan is broken into five biennial periods. The 2009-2011 biennium includes plans for $98 million in improvements to the Recreational Sports Center; $80 million for construction and renovation of life sciences facilities; and an $11 million, first-phase replacement for mechanical engineering's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories. Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne plans include a $38 million expansion to the student housing complex, a new $16.8 million parking garage, and $6 million in renovations to the Helmke Library and the Classroom Medical Building. Purdue North Central plans a $33.7 million Student Services and Activities Complex.

"The requests in this plan were developed through a process that involved the evaluation of programmatic needs and priorities," said Joseph Mikesell, interim vice president for physical facilities. "If and when these projects begin and how long they take to construct are subject to several factors, including available funding."

The capital plan will be submitted to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education later this month and become part of the 2009-2011 biennium capital improvement budget request.

The trustees also approved renovations and additions to Mackey Arena with a total budget of $99.5 million. Athletics director Morgan Burke said the 278,000-square-foot complex will eliminate the need to construct three new buildings that would have cost approximately $275 million.

"This project will bring Mackey Arena into the 21st century in terms of program space, fan amenities and accessibility," Burke said. "The addition to this 1967 landmark will remedy deficiencies in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and strength and conditioning facilities, as well as lockerrooms."

The Athletics Department, which is self-supporting and receives no tax dollars, will pay for the project completely with gifts, increased concession and premium seating revenue, and income generated from the Big Ten Network and other conference television funds. The complex will include additional meeting, office and study space, and also relocate football practice fields and parking areas. Appropriate landscaping will be added throughout the complex.

The trustees also approved the use of the design/build process to purchase and install a new boiler in an addition being built at the Wade Utility Plant. The authorization will allow Purdue to hire a single firm both to design and build the $53 million project, thus speeding the process and containing expenses, said Erick Van Meter, interim senior director of utilities and construction.

Funding will come from bonds approved in 2007. The contract should be awarded by January, with the three-year construction period beginning in March 2009.

"Boiler Number 6 will help us meet the growing need on campus for heating, cooling and electricity while also reducing Purdue's impact on the environment," Van Meter said. "By burning limestone with the coal, chemical reactions occur that capture airborne pollutants efficiently and effectively."

The process, called circulating fluidized bed technology, captures more than 90 percent of the sulfur and mercury from the coal and generates less nitrogen oxide emission than conventional boilers. Ninety-nine percent of the fuel burned at the Wade plant is Indiana coal. The technology allows use of high-sulfur content coal that ordinarily is more abundant and costs less than ultra low-sulphur coal. The boiler also will be able to burn environmentally friendly alternative biomass fuels when they become more readily available.

The trustees also approved awarding an $18.6 million construction contract for the Discovery Learning Center to Kettlehut Construction Inc. of Lafayette, Ind. The center, to be located in Discovery Park, will house learning research laboratories to examine how people learn and solve problems as well as develop lifelong learning abilities needed in the work force of the future.

"Research at the center will examine how novel learning environments, revolutionary new teaching approaches and cutting-edge technologies impact learning at all levels, and will push the frontiers of teaching and learning," said Jon Harbor, the center's interim director. "Discoveries here will help to prepare students for the high-tech jobs of the future and to develop a scientifically literate population."

The center also will house the Mann Institute for Biomedical Development, an organization designed to help commercialize innovative biomedical technologies. Two floors of the center will be devoted to office space serving a variety of other Discovery Park centers.

Discovery Learning Center construction is scheduled to begin this month. The $25 million project is being funded largely through $11 million in gifts and $10 million from the capital reserve for buildings.

The trustees also awarded an $8.4 million contract to the J.R. Kelly Co. of Lafayette, Ind., for phase two renovations to the Windsor Residence Halls residential complex. All 77 Duhme Hall rooms will be air-conditioned, and the hall will receive a new elevator and all new electrical and mechanical systems. Historical architectural elements will be restored or replaced and fire protection and accessibility will be improved.

"This project is part of a $200 million plan to increase the safety and comfort of our students campuswide," said Barbara Frazee, executive director of University Residences. "It also is preserving a distinctive part of Purdue's history, where future women leaders have been educated since Amelia Earhart lived here as a career adviser in the 1930s."

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2008 and be complete by June 2009. The $11.3 million project is funded by bonds that will repaid from resident user fees within the self-supporting University Residences system.

The trustees granted Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne's request to plan a $38 million expansion to the student housing complex that will add up to 450 new beds. Design Collaborative of Fort Wayne was selected to design the project that may include additional commons facilities, a service and maintenance building, and open recreation space.

The trustees voted to allow planning for storm sewer modifications for the West Lafayette campus. Meliora Environmental Design LLC of Kimberton, Pa., was selected to design the $5.6 million project that will bring the storm sewer system in compliance with the national requirements.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: Morgan R. Olsen, (765) 494-9705, mrolsen@purdue.edu

Joseph Mikesell, (765) 494-7327, jdmikesell@purdue.edu

Morgan Burke, (765) 494-3189, mjb@purdue.edu

Erick Van Meter, (765) 423-5951, eevanmeter@purdue.edu

Jonathan Harbor, (765) 496-1938, jharborr@purdue.edu

Barbara Frazee, (765) 494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue.edu

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

RENDERING CAPTION:
The new Mackey Arena Complex will include improved sports medicine, rehabilitation, conditioning, and locker room facilities and add office, meeting, and study space. (Rendering by HNTB Architecture)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/MackeyNorth.jpg

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