Several construction projects under way, planned

Indiana State University is building for the future with 12 major construction and renovation projects under way or scheduled to begin in 2010 or 2011.

Projects include modernizing residence halls and science labs, upgrading campus heating and cooling systems and improving the safety and accessibility of some pedestrian areas while making them more environmentally friendly.

Many of the projects are concentrated along the Fifth Street corridor between Tippecanoe and Cherry Streets and will result in changes to traffic patterns not only for students, faculty and staff but also for residents who regularly travel through the ISU campus.

Work related to the construction of a new satellite chiller plant to serve the west side of campus has resulted in the temporary closure of Spruce Street between Fifth and Sixth streets. Beginning June 7, Fifth Street will temporarily become a two-way street north of Chestnut Street to accommodate construction traffic. The chiller project and others will lead to temporary closing of other streets, sidewalks and parking lots.

The project involves construction of a new chiller plant on a current parking lot at Fifth and Tippecanoe streets and installation of new 24-inch water lines to an existing chiller plant north of Cunningham Memorial Library.

Total cost for the projects is $39.3 million, financed variously by state funds, federal stimulus dollars and self-supporting university funds. In all cases, funds are specifically earmarked for construction.

\"There is a great future ahead of us at Indiana State and we must continue to invest in buildings and other campus infrastructure. We are pleased that state and federal officials have provided the funds for these projects or, in some cases, have approved the sale of bonds to be financed by dedicated university funds,\" university President Dan Bradley said.

\"We also appreciate the patience of our Terre Haute neighbors who may use Fifth Street. We hope they share our pride in making the ISU campus a more functional and attractive destination for students and families throughout Indiana.\"

Major projects already underway or that will soon begin on the Indiana State campus, and their source of funding, include:

• The satellite chiller system - $6.8 million in state funds• Renovation of Sandison Hall - $9.1 million from ISU residential life monies• Renovation of 18 labs in the Science Building - Work has begun on five labs with the remainder to be completed next year if funds are available, $7.1 million in state funds• Student Success Center at Burford Hall - $500,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal stimulus funds • Roof replacement, Hulman Memorial Student Union - $375,000 in dedicated union building fees• Sprinkler system, Jones Hall - $384,260 in residential life funds• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade, Lincoln Quad - $825,500 in ARRA funds• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade, Health and Human Services (Arena) Building - $1.15 million in ARRA funds• Pickerl Hall renovation (to begin fall 2010) - $10 million (estimated) in residential life funds• Rankin Plaza project, to include replacement of the roof system for the Computer Center, located below the pedestrian plaza outside Rankin, Tirey and Parsons halls and a more \"eco friendly\" design for the plaza - $2.0 million (estimated) in ARRA funds• Chestnut Street Plaza, to include a pedestrian walkway between Seventh and Eighth streets between University Hall and the Nursing Building - $535,000 in ARRA funds• Holmstedt Hall Plaza, to provide a more \"eco friendly\" atmosphere, improved lighting and Americans with Disabilities Act access to lecture rooms 102 and 103 in the Holmstedt Hall classroom building - $580,000 in ARRA funds

In addition to the university projects, work is under way on a new building for the ISU Foundation at Fifth and Cherry streets that will house a Barnes & Noble book store that will provide a broader line of products than the existing ISU bookstore as well as a Starbucks. That project is funded by the foundation, a private developer, and tax increment financing from the city of Terre Haute.

Map: http://www.indstate.edu/visiting/pdfs/Map_Construction_04-29.pdf - This map highlights construction projects on campus and indicates how traffic flow may be impacted by the various projects.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/864869600_qQjJR-L.jpg - Work has begun on a new satellite chilled water plant to serve the west side of the Indiana State University campus. It is just one of 12 university construction projects under way or planned to begin this year and next.

Media contact and writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu