For Immediate Release July 27, 2005

For More Information Contact: Diane Brown, 317-274-7711 habrown@iupui.edu

Conseco Fieldhouse Builder Gets IUPUI Campus Center Contract, Demolition for Site Preparation to Begin August 8

INDIANAPOLIS - A top builder of impressive facilities around the nation, including Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, will construct what will become a premier building at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

IU Trustees have awarded Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis the general construction contract for the $50-million IUPUI Campus Center. Indianapolis Electric Company and Greiner Brothers, respectively, won contracts for the construction of the building's electrical and mechanical systems.

"The Campus Center is vital to making IUPUI students more successful," said IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz. "We know that the more students get involved on campus - with other students, with faculty, with organizations - the more successful they will be. With 95 percent of our students commuting, we must work harder to help them get involved. Thus the Campus Center is not only a beautiful building - it is where students become more successful."

Construction is expected to take 30 months, with a current completion date in fall 2007. But first, the Bowers Building, which sits on the construction site at the southwest corner of Michigan Street and University Boulevard, must come down.

Demolition of the Bowers Building is set to begin August 8 and take six to eight weeks.

Construction of the new center will begin shortly after the demolition is completed.

The four-story Campus Center will have a 179-foot bell tower and serve as a navigational point for people on campus and off. The center will feature a bookstore and a 600-seat dining area. The facility will provide learning spaces for students, faculty and staff, along with space for planned meeting events. In addition, the center will house offices for admissions, the bursar, financial aid, and other student support and leadership functions.

Officials estimate that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 individuals will utilize the Campus Center on a daily basis. IUPUI currently enrolls more than 29,000 students.

The Campus Center "is a long overdue project for IUPUI and it will provide a student life component that is not there at the moment," said IU Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Terry Clapacs.

According to Dean of Students Karen Whitney, the Campus Center will revolutionize student life at IUPUI by providing spaces and programs that will enrich the college experience.

"Students will experience book readings, lectures, films, art exhibits, or concerts, purchases books and software, cash a check, mail a letter, check e-mail, have lunch, play a game of billiards, watch TV, meet with fellow students or faculty before, between or after class - all in the Campus Center," Whitney said..

Five major sources will fund the project. A $10-million state appropriation will pay for about 20 percent of the project through a capital improvement plan. Student activities fee revenue will fund approximately 39 percent of the project. Revenue from the campus bookstore, copy services, food service and other auxiliary retail enterprises will cover the remaining 41 percent.

The university is currently pursuing private funds to support enhancements to the facility and to support student civic leadership and cultural enrichment programs, Whitney said.

Additional details on the Campus center can be viewed online at http://www.life.iupui.edu/campcntr. ###