Purdue Forging Ahead With Major Projects
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Purdue University Board of Trustees has voted to move forward with multiple highly-anticipated projects. They include a $60 million Agricultural and Life Sciences facility, an equine center in Shelbyville and runway improvements at the Purdue Airport. May 15, 2015
News Release
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A new $60 million Agricultural and Life Sciences Facility that was designated as the university’s top priority in a 10-year capital plan submitted to the state was given the green light to move forward by Purdue’s Board of Trustees on Friday (May 15).
The board also took actions to advance an equine center in Shelbyville, Indiana; make significant runway improvements at the Purdue Airport; approve the final term of a procurement tool to advance campus projects in a timely manner; and sign a development agreement for the State Street corridor project.
Trustees authorized planning, financing, construction and awarding of a construction contract for the approximately 123,000 gross-square-foot Agricultural and Life Sciences Facility complex, to be built at the intersection of S. Russell and Harrison streets. The building will consolidate Department of Animal Sciences students, faculty and staff into a unified complex to better coordinate teaching, research and engagement activities, as well as provide needed upgrades to teaching, research and meat lab facilities.
“This new location will provide the facilities needed to maintain our continued recognition as a premier program and attract top students and faculty, as well as to support the animal industries in our state and around the world at the highest levels,” said Jay Akridge, Purdue's Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. “In addition, the location near the Life and Health Sciences Park and adjacent to Discovery Park will allow us to enhance collaboration among our college and the colleges of Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.”
The project will require the demolition of the Food Stores Building, Building Services and Grounds Building, and a storage shed. Construction is projected to begin in February 2016, with occupancy slated for July 2017.
Financing will come from $35 million in student fee bond proceeds approved by the General Assembly, $15 million in gift funds, and $10 million from the capital reserve for buildings. Purdue must provide $5 million in matching funds in order to activate the General Assembly's authorization of an additional $5 million in bonding authority for the project.
Trustees approved requesting assistance from the Purdue Research Foundation to assume responsibility for the design and construction of the $8.8 million Centaur Regional Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center, which will be located in Shelbyville near Indiana Downs.
The state-of-the-art facility will provide health services to horses and serve as a working laboratory to support the College of Veterinary Medicine’s student learning and research.
“This is an exciting partnership that will provide expanded training opportunities for our future equine specialists,” said Willie Reed, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of veterinary anatomic pathology. “We will have a cutting-edge facility to facilitate groundbreaking research and administer emergency medical services in a location near Indiana Downs.”
The center will be built on land purchased by Purdue Research Foundation with $2.3 million in support from Shelby County and city of Shelbyville. Centaur Gaming, which owns and operates Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, has pledged $3.1 million to name the facility.
An $11.25 million project to make repairs at the Purdue Airport also was approved by trustees. The project will rehabilitate the long runway, known as 10/28, make repairs to its intersection with another runway, and replace obsolete runway/taxiway guidance signage with LED signage that meets current FAA standards.
The board's approval paves the way for the project to begin immediately upon FAA approval. If approved, an FAA grant would pay for 90 percent of the project, with 5 percent being funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation and the remaining 5 percent coming from airport department funds. The current timeline calls for the work to begin in July and be completed in September in order to minimize impact to Purdue Airport operations.
Trustees approved awarding the fourth and final option term for Job Order Contracts. The term is set up to expire in 12 months or when the cap of $4 million is reached. Funds are drawn from various sources, including university repair and rehabilitation funds or client payback for services.
Job Order Contracting is an alternative procurement tool intended for design and repair, alteration, renovation, rehabilitation, construction, and maintenance of facilities on the West Lafayette campus. Under the system, the contractor is responsible for furnishing all management and materials required to perform the work.
Board members also approved the State Street project development agreement, which included a request for related assistance from the Purdue Research Foundation. The agreement represents a partnership between the university and city of West Lafayette in cooperation with the West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission and Purdue Research Foundation. The agreement, which still must be approved by these other parties’ governing bodies, covers topics such as cost-sharing, funding, project management and oversight, and the procurement process. Under the agreement, the Joint Board established under the 2014 interlocal agreement between the university and the city of West Lafayette will be charged with overseeing the project delivery.
Source: Purdue University
May 15, 2015
News Release
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (May 15) endorsed a proposed tuition freeze for resident, nonresident and international students at the West Lafayette campus through the next two academic years, making a total of four years of no change in base tuition after 36 consecutive years of increases.
At the same time, the board endorsed the proposed conceptual operating budget for fiscal year 2016, which will provide for a 3.5 percent merit pay increase for employees at West Lafayette, with 0.5 percent of that conditional on each unit implementing a plan to streamline administrative costs, rationalize space utilization and provide appropriate recognition of strong performers in the distribution of the merit increase. In addition, the proposal calls for entry-level wages to be increased to $10 per hour for all benefits-eligible clerical and service staff.
The measure will now go to the Executive Committee for final approval on May 27.
“Student affordability and steady investment in teaching and research excellence are not only reconcilable but complementary,” said Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. “Serious attention to efficiency is the key to advancing both these goals.”
In keeping affordability and quality at the forefront, Purdue will continue to invest in programs aimed at improving the academic experience. Projects focused on Purdue Moves initiatives and academic resources for students are integral to the proposed budget, with new investments of more than $18 million in those targeted areas.
Under the proposal, over the 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years, tuition and fees will remain the same at West Lafayette with resident students paying $10,002 and out-of-state students paying $28,804. International students enrolled in summer 2012 or after will pay $30,804.
Several fees at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus will remain flat or be eliminated under the proposal, including overall flat rates on meal plans and student housing for the 2015-16 academic year. In addition, the $200 fee for credit-bearing internship/co-op/industrial practice will be eliminated.
New in the