IU Board to Vote on Big Projects

(photo courtesy Madam Walker Theatre Center)

The Indiana University Board of Trustees will Friday vote on two major projects. They include a new housing complex and dining facility on the Bloomington campus and a previously-announced lease agreement with the Madam Walker Theater Center near the IUPUI campus.

The $99 million Bloomington project will include the 700-bed housing complex. Located west of McNutt Quadrangle, the complex will feature multiple buildings with single and multiple-occupancy rooms, lounge spaces and study rooms. The dining facility will be an addition and partial renovation of the central portion of the McNutt complex.

According to the agenda for the board of trustees meeting, the project will provide slight growth in on-campus accommodations and help to offset the loss of beds due to replacements. The project will be funded through residential programs and services funds.

The lease agreement with the Madam Walker Theater Center would give IU rights for use, operation, renovation and maintenance of the historic building. The agreement includes $15 million in renovations, which are being funded through grants from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.

When the partnership was announced last month, IU said it would include programming updates such as new classes, workshops, seminars and a speaker series in partnership with IUPUI.