Expansion 2008
By Kim Puckett | News Editor
The ongoing University of Indiana-polis campus facelift has advanced this summer with renovations on the Schwitzer Student Center, Esch Hall and Warren Hall.
The interior of the Schwitzer Center has been remodeled in addition to the student center. According to Physical Plant Director, Ken Piepenbrink, the remodel is on schedule and will be finished by the start of the semester.
Piepenbrink says, the inside of Schwitzer will be finished as well as the parking lot between the student center and the Ruth Lilly Fitness Center. The Schwitzer addition, however, will not be finished until the beginning of the spring semester.
“Though everything will not be completely finished by the time school starts, everything will be respectable,” Piepenbrink said.
Schwitzer’s renovations will include a revamped dining hall, now named UIndy Marketplace, and other new dining choices. The dining hall renovations will feature U-shaped buffet stations instead of one counter of food selections. Each smaller buffet line will feature a complete meal, according to Kory Vitangeli, dean of students.
“They [the stations] are curved so that you cannot go from one to the other, which we hope will help avoid the long line that used to be in the dining hall,” Vitangeli said.
Schwitzer has new dining areas including the Fiesta Mexican Grill, Sub Hub and a newly renovated Perk coffee shop. In the location that used to house the Streets Grill, sack lunches and carry-out pizzas will be available.
The Perk will be connected to the Schwitzer Center addition, so the coffee shop will not be open until a week or two after the start of the semester, according to Piepenbrink.
The Schwitzer atrium and recreation area have also been remodeled with new furniture, paint and carpeting. Eventually, the president’s and trustees’ dining halls will be connected and turned into a student lounge, according to Vitangeli.
UIndy President Beverley Pitts said though Ted Polk, director of Polk Food Services, has done a wonderful job with the facilities in the past, the new environment will be better for food service and for students.
“First, I think students will like the new look of the Schwitzer Center,” Pitts said. “Then they will see the new model for access to food is so much better.”
Esch Hall also underwent renovations this summer on its second floor. The Center for Excellence in Learning has moved locations, opening up six new classrooms. According to Pitts, the classrooms will be for general use and not assigned to any certain department.
Renovations on the third floor of Warren Hall have also been completed, according to Vitangeli. Due to overflow in residence halls, the basement of Warren has also been converted into housing for 20 students.
Future campus improvements such as library renovations, a new sports building and a new dormitory are in the advanced planning stages, according to Pitts.
Ground will be broken on the new dormitory in late August or early September says Piepenbrink and the new housing facility will be where the softball field is currently located.
The new dormitory will be restricted to upperclassmen and will have 155 single suits. Each room will share a bathroom with one other room, but will have a sink in each suite. The new dormitory will also have high ceilings, many windows, lounges and kitchens, according to Vitangeli.
“We are gearing the new dorm to upperclassmen who still want to live on campus but want privacy,” Vitangeli said.
According to Pitts, the major campus renovations have been completed and are still in the planning stages will cover all facets of campus life.
“It’s important to know that the academic side is being addressed as well as the social side,” Pitts said. “So we are trying to improve housing, social life, the library, and classrooms.”
