Sue Loughlin
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Indiana State University has received the final go-ahead to proceed with renovation of the former federal building, which will become the new home of the Scott College of Business.
The State Budget Committee authorized the $20 million project when it met Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Private donors will fund about $11 million of the project. The other $9 million comes from bonding authorization approved by the Indiana General Assembly in 2009.
The Scott College of Business hopes to make the move to Seventh and Cherry streets by fall semester 2012. Currently, it is in a 15-story building originally built as a residence hall (part of the Statesman Towers).
“It’s been a long time coming for many people who have been in this [Statesman Tower] building,” said Nancy Merritt, Scott College of Business dean. The college moved to the current facility about 30 years ago as “a temporary space,” she said.
“The facility that we’ll move into is so enlivening,” she said. “Not only will we have some historic preservation going on, but we are building in the best technologies and learning spaces as well as spaces to bring in community members, particularly business community members, to interact with our students and faculty.”
With the current building, that interaction is more difficult because departments are scattered on many different floors. The ISU Foundation already has raised a significant portion of funding needed for the project, more than $6.5 million, Merritt said. “We still have work to do.”
Retired businessman Donald W. Scott, for whom the college was named in October 2009, provided a substantial gift for renovation of the federal building.
Others providing gifts include Sackrider and Co., which is assisting with a Sycamore Business Advisers resource room.
Also, Nancy and Randy Minas have donated funds for the Financial Trading Room, which will double in size at the new location.
Architectural work for the renovation project is complete, and plans call for bids to be awarded in early 2011, with construction expected to be complete as early as August 2012.
ISU President Dan Bradley thanked the budget committee for its support of the project, which will enable the university to better serve students, the community and the state, he said.
He gave special thanks to state Rep. Clyde Kersey, state Sen. Tim Skinner, state Sen. Luke Kenley, who is chairman of the budget committee and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, who supported the project at the federal level.
ISU assumed ownership of the former federal building in 2009. Prior to transfer of ownership, the federal government invested $6.3 million to rehabilitate the building, install a fire alarm system and add a new south facade and entry.
The goal is for the south side to eventually serve as the main entrance, Merritt said.
The federal building was constructed in 1932. With the upcoming renovation, the interior of the building will be redesigned to meet the needs of the Business College while the outdated cooling, electrical, heating, and ventilation systems will be replaced. Classrooms also will be constructed.
The former federal courtroom will be preserved and serve as the College and Community Conference Center.
The Scott College of Business has about 1,200 students this fall.
The property owned by the Vigo County School Corp. south of the federal building is “of interest,” Merritt said. The VCSC administration building is at 686 Wabash Ave.
The move of the Scott College of Business into the former federal building will then allow for demolition of Statesman Towers on the northeast side of the ISU campus. In a news release, Kersey, D-Terre Haute, stated that the federal building “has been a landmark in our community since 1932. We will be able to preserve a historic structure while upgrading what ISU can offer its students in the Donald W. Scott College of Business. It is a great solution to preserving the historic while preparing for the future.”
The State Budget Committee also agreed to allow $1,627,985 to be used to renovate seven undergraduate science research laboratories at ISU.
The project will be funded with $1,560,518 in National Science Foundation grants, with the remainder from university funds. Most of the labs have not been upgraded since they were built more than 50 years ago, Kersey said.
The improvements will enable biology, chemistry and geology faculty members to conduct their research using modern equipment while making the most efficient use of the space, Kersey stated.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
