2008 Woodie Awards
BSU to fix buildings by 2012
University renovations reach total of $53 million budget
Anna Kaiser
During the next four years, several Ball State University buildings will undergo two phases of construction, a university official said.
The Teachers College, North Quad and Applied Science and Technology buildings will be renovated, with completion planned by 2012, said Randy Howard, associate vice president of finance and assistant treasurer.
Phase I, a $33 million project, will consist of central campus' academic renovations and utility and system updates. The Indiana General Assembly has already approved Phase I's funding; however, Ball State has not yet received the money.
"Once the General Assembly approves, you still have to go through the State Budget Agency and then Commission for Higher Education," Howard said. "And we don't intend to start construction, and therefore don't need money, probably until mid-2009."
Planning for Phase II just started. The $19.7 million project is being proposed as part of the capital request for next year. It is part of the legislative request of $290 million the Ball State's Board of Trustees recently approved. Thomas DeWeese, president of the Board of Trustees, was unavailable for comment.
Howard is optimistic the approved budgets will be enough to cover the cost of renovations. However the state's budgeting process runs three to four years in advance, which means the initial price of construction could increase. Phase II might not be started until 2011.
"We have no way of knowing what inflation is going to do," Howard said. "In the past year or so, gasoline has skyrocketed. If it keeps going at that pace, who knows if the 19.7 will be enough."
Every year, the state has a formula based on the age and square footage of the building to determine the cost maintaining the buildings, Howard said.
Facilities planning and management department does an assessment of all the campus buildings. The university takes into account the condition of the buildings and which have the highest needs when deciding renovation plans.
The Teachers College, North Quad and Applied Science and Technology buildings will be renovated, with completion planned by 2012, said Randy Howard, associate vice president of finance and assistant treasurer.
Phase I, a $33 million project, will consist of central campus' academic renovations and utility and system updates. The Indiana General Assembly has already approved Phase I's funding; however, Ball State has not yet received the money.
"Once the General Assembly approves, you still have to go through the State Budget Agency and then Commission for Higher Education," Howard said. "And we don't intend to start construction, and therefore don't need money, probably until mid-2009."
Planning for Phase II just started. The $19.7 million project is being proposed as part of the capital request for next year. It is part of the legislative request of $290 million the Ball State's Board of Trustees recently approved. Thomas DeWeese, president of the Board of Trustees, was unavailable for comment.
Howard is optimistic the approved budgets will be enough to cover the cost of renovations. However the state's budgeting process runs three to four years in advance, which means the initial price of construction could increase. Phase II might not be started until 2011.
"We have no way of knowing what inflation is going to do," Howard said. "In the past year or so, gasoline has skyrocketed. If it keeps going at that pace, who knows if the 19.7 will be enough."
Every year, the state has a formula based on the age and square footage of the building to determine the cost maintaining the buildings, Howard said.
Facilities planning and management department does an assessment of all the campus buildings. The university takes into account the condition of the buildings and which have the highest needs when deciding renovation plans.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 5
BSU
posted 7/30/08 @ 9:57 PM EST
Will my tuition go up because of this?
David Speakman
posted 8/19/08 @ 8:28 PM EST
This article was the victim of poor copy editing.
Printed:
...will be renovated, with completion planned by 2012, said Randy Howard...
Should be:
. (Continued…)
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