ISU planning major renovations

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana State University (ISU) is planning some major campus renovations.

Officials said a student housing complex will receive upgrades, because it's outdated and the college needs to remain competitive.

Sycamore Towers is four 12-story buildings near the southwest corner of campus. The complex is between Fourth and Fifth streets just north of Cherry.

School leaders built the towers in the 1960's. And now the towers are getting much-needed improvements.       

Vice president of business affairs and finance Diann McKee said the interiors of the buildings are out-dated. So, administration decided to bring them into the 21st century.

The towers will receive some exterior work, with the majority of the work focused on the inside.

Air conditioners will be put in the buildings and electrical upgrades completed.

Each tower houses about 400 students, which will be reduced to about 300 to 360 after the renovations.   

McKee believes another reason the college is renovating is to remain competitive with other schools in the state.

Officials are excited at what the new renovations will bring.

“We’re very excited that this is a project that will benefit our students. So, we’re very excited to be moving forward with this,” said McKee.

The first hall to be renovated is Mills Hall.

McKee said ISU hopes to keep the cost below the $22 million slated for that hall.

Funding for the renovations is coming from residence hall cash reserve funds and long-term bonds.

The project is expected to start in the summer of 2013. They hope it will be completed by the fall of 2014.