Even though students will unexpectedly occupy Johnson A this fall, they'll have to evacuate the residence hall by Spring Semester for renovations.
Ball State is looking to begin the bid process at the end of January, said Jim Lowe, director of Facilities Planning and Management. The bid process will take about six weeks.
The university is still deciding what updates it wants to make to the residence hall, which first opened in 1967.
"We're looking into the best option to find ways to add a few more student rooms," he said. "It's those type of features we're looking into."
Lowe said his department is discussing increasing the size of student rooms, adding public spaces, creating public spaces in different ways and ways to improve shared bathroom spaces in the hall.
Lowe said he hopes to compartmentalize the bathrooms. One way to potentially do that is to assign eight student rooms to one bathroom, although that is just one idea and is subject to change.
Renovations on Johnson A will cost between $30 million and $35 million, and will be similar to renovations done to DeHority Complex and Studebaker East.
"It certainly won't be a brand new facility like a Park or Kinghorn [halls] where you can start with a clean sheet of paper because you're working with an existing structure," he said.
The plan is to have the hall occupied in Fall Semester 2015, and then the university will turn its attention to Johnson B.
Originally, Johnson A was going to be empty for the full academic year, but delays in the renovations of Studebaker East forced the university to move some students to the hall for Fall Semester.
Those students will accept a lower housing rate and then move to Studebaker East for Spring Semester once renovations there are complete.
Botsford and Swinford halls must be vacated by the end of 2012 so renovations on Johnson A can begin in January 2013.
The university will assist students moving from Johnson to Studebaker East by providing free moving boxes and movers for students' packed belongings by appointment.
Lowe said precautionary measures will be made so Johnson A opens on schedule, although those same precautions are made in every construction project on campus - including Studebaker East.
The university may schedule more time to gather information about contractors, though. Lowe said his department is familiar with most of the contractors in the area but it wouldn't hurt to have more time to investigate contractors who bid from other states, such as the contractor for Studebaker East.
"Are there lessons learned?" he said. "Just work harder at those precautionary measures you have in place."
Read More
AP: Biden's upcoming graduation speech roils Morehouse College, a center of Black politics and culture
By The Associated Press / YesterdayWhen he gives the commencement address at Morehouse College, President Joe Biden will have his most direct engagement with college students since the start of the Israel-Hamas war at a center of Black politics and culture.
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Rokita warns Indiana college officials to guard against campus antisemitism
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 2 days agoAttorney General Todd Rokita on Wednesday issued a warning to postsecondary officials: “Hateful antisemitic acts against Jewish students will not be tolerated.”
Authors of book “Cold Case Muncie" host event at Muncie Public Library
By Ellie Marker / 3 days agoTrue crime journalists and authors Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon co-wrote a book titled, “Cold Case Muncie.” At the Carnegie Library May 14, the authors shared comments about their findings as well as a Q&A session with the audience.
