The largest construction project in University history will culminate in a much anticipated new Union that is expected to open during the 2008-2009 academic year.
The new facility will provide an array of amenities designed to enhance the sense of community on campus, foster leadership development, promote opportunities for service and understanding cultural diversity, support the academic program and provide a variety of services to students.
There will be numerous places where members of the campus community can gather to interact with each other ranging from living room-style lounges to a central location for mail delivery, from a large dining room to a small café, and from areas for informal recreation to a large ballroom for lectures, dances and concerts.
The 202,000-square foot-building is part of a $74 million project that includes construction of the two-story facility in addition to expenditures for furnishings, kitchen equipment, development of supporting campus infrastructure, site preparation, professional fees and an endowment fund to support building operations. The project, which will centralize many student services now provided in several locations, is being funded by private gifts.
Design architect for the building is Sasaki Associates Inc., a Boston-based firm that is a leading designer of college facilities. Design Organization Inc. of Valparaiso, which has aided in the design of other campus facilities, is the architect of record. The Chicago office of M.A. Mortenson Co. is construction manager.
foot building will be nearly four times the size of the current Union and provide centralized dining and mail delivery as well as meeting rooms in a variety of sizes, offices, a snack bar and game area, the Book Center, lounges and other amenities. There also is a large ballroom that can seat 1,000 people in theatre-style seating or 500 for a dinner. The building will be completed during the 2008-2009 academic year. Visit the Union Construction Website for more details about the building and to monitor construction progress via the Webcam.
Union construction has necessitated the closure of Chapel Drive, which formerly dissected campus on an east-west line. There is vehicle access to the Chapel of the Resurrection from the west, although parking is not permitted except as a passenger drop-off and pick-up zone. Vehicular access to the Center for the Arts is from the east.
Recently completed on the northeast corner of campus is a new parking ramp. It provides additional parking space for students and also will be used by workers during the final months of construction of the Union.
Other areas of campus are being restored to their original beauty after a considerable amount of digging on campus for a variety of projects. Grass and flowers again are growing where trenching and other excavation was necessary for several projects including installation of new duct banks for data transmission and for new water and storm sewer lines.
