IUPUI Campus Tour

March 19

CAMPUS TOUR ENJOYED

After a few days of less than perfect weather, Friday, March 19, 2004 turned bright and spring-like just in time for the Senior Academy campus tour. The idea of a tour developed last year following a talk to the SA Board by Vice Chancellor Bob Martin. His presentation on the continuing rapid physical development of the campus was met with such interest and enthusiasm that he offered to organize a tour of the campus sometime in the future.

Reservations for the tour filled the seats on the bus and Bob conducted the tour himself. Stops included a visit to one of the over 700 new campus residential units and the glass sculpture, “DNA Tower” by Dale Chilhuly in the Mills Atrium of the Van Nuys Medical Building. Bob provided an informative and historical narrative as the group passed Medical Science-Phase II, Research Institute II, the new Child Care Center, Inlow Hall (the new Law School Building) and a variety of other projects under construction such, the new Communications Technology and School of Informatics Complex, and the new site for Eskenazi Hall (Herron School of Art).

Bob introduced the concept, new to most of us, of a “north campus” now developing north of 10th Street and across White River. The Biomedical Research and Training Center and Herron’s state-of-the-art ceramics teaching facility and several IUPUI
office operations that do not require direct contact with students or the public already exist in that area. The group marveled at the new pedestrian walkway that had been Barnhill Drive, and tried to recognize features that at one time were so familiar.

He identified the expected sites of buildings coming in the future such as parking garages, Riley Tower (the next phase of a $200 million dollar development of Riley Hospital) and a huge new Campus Center.

The tour was a stunning experience for those in attendance and we thank Vice Chancellor Bob Martin for his arrangements and his sparkling presentation.