Junior speech pathology major Emily Schott spends most of her academic time in the Arts and Communication Building, as a student and a clinician at the Speech and Language Clinic. During her time spent there, Schott said she has noticed structural and technological voids affecting herself and others.
Most importantly, Schott said, is the unusual layout of the building, which causes hazards for handicap students. There are steep slants in the hallways, no ramps and half-floors that contain faculty offices, but aren't accessible by elevator. In order for wheelchair-users to reach the half-floors, they have to use a mechanical lifter.
Schott said especially during unfavorable weather, everyone has difficulty navigating the building's steep, slippery surfaces.
Junior speech pathology major Christyn Connolly said the classrooms in AC have also fallen behind the high technological standards of the rest of the university.
"The building is in desperate need of renovations just to bring us up to par with the rest of campus," Connolly said.
There are no overhead projectors attached to the ceiling, a shortage in lab computers and outdated furnishings that are distracting and uncomfortable, Connolly said.
Connolly, who also works in the Speech and Language Clinic, said these inadequacies affect the appearance and reputation of the clinic.
"Our department is one of the top programs in the state clinically, but the building doesn't reflect that," she said.
North Quad, Teachers College and the Applied Technology Building are next on the list of renovations on Ball State University's campus.
Tom Kinghorn, vice president for business affairs, said all three buildings will receive substantial upgrades, including heating, cooling and electrical upgrades and updates to the finishing on each floor.
"They will be, essentially, new buildings both aesthetically and systematically," Kinghorn said.
Kinghorn said renovations involve long-term planning and are scheduled three to four years in advance.
"Buildings, by nature, will wear out," Kinghorn said. "We expect continuous upgrades throughout the life cycle of the buildings."
For the most part these life cycles last about 50 years and are considered for major upgrades at the end of that time. The order in which building's are selected for maintenance has to do with the "logical arrangement of departments," Kinghorn said. "Construction decisions are driven by strategic planning, the condition of the buildings and are sequenced based on need."
Since it's completion in 1957, the AC building has undergone several changes and updates, including a switch from the Telecommunications and Journalism department building that involved increasing the building's academic space to meet classroom needs, Kinghorn said.
But even with these updates, Kinghorn said Ball State's staff is aware of the growing need to renovate AC. Once updates of North Quad, Teachers College and the Applied Technology Building are complete, faculty will take a closer look at the needs of the AC building.
Kinghorn said he anticipates the building receiving updates to the heating, cooling, ventilating and lighting either in the summer of 2009 or 2010.
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