When students came to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this fall, they discovered enhancements and renovations to a campus, already known for its attractiveness. SIUE’s campus growth this year totaled approximately $9 million, according to Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker.
“We continue to make repairs, upgrades and additions to our beautiful campus,” said Walker. “The work is an ongoing investment in our University and our students.”
The campus growth projects are categorized as recently completed, in progress and in the future.
“Our largest summer project was Parking Lot A, just east of the Vadalabene Center,” noted Walker. “The parking lot not only needed re-surfacing, but also needed to correct the problem of vehicles and pedestrians coming together at the same point. We added our first roundabout to improve traffic flow.”
The Ralph Korte Stadium parking lot was converted from rock to asphalt, and lights were installed.
“Lights on the new asphalt make the stadium finally look like a Division I athletic complex,” said Walker. “It’s much more appealing to have night lighting, and it makes the stadium more user friendly for evening events.”
This summer, the SIUE School of Engineering saw the completion of the Fowler Student Design Center, thanks to the Fowler family’s generous gift of $1.25 million, one of the largest private gifts the University has received.
“We’ve done major infrastructure improvements, as well,” added Walker. “We replaced additional sections of campus sidewalks, fire hydrants and water lines.
“At the East St. Louis campus, we replaced most of the air handling units on top of the buildings,” he noted. “In Alton, we replaced additional sewer lines and water piping in the buildings.”
“Of the projects we recently completed, we were able to utilize multiple funding sources,” Walker offered. “Funding came from parking fees, private donations, state money and a variety of other sources.”
Listed below are some of those projects in progress and in planning.
In progress:
- Founders Hall is undergoing $34 million in infrastructure improvements. Updates will include making the building safer against earthquakes. Founders Hall is one of the original buildings on campus.
- The Wastewater Treatment Plant is scheduled to have $1 million of work completed.
- The skylights in Lovejoy Library and the Student Fitness Center are being replaced.
- The exterior lighting on campus is being replaced with LED fixtures for energy efficiency.
In the future:
- Construction of the Health Sciences Complex, which will provide new facilities for nursing, pharmacy and other health disciplines. The cost is estimated at $105 million and is funded by the state.
- Renovate and expand the SIUE Greenhouse. The cost is estimated at $2.5 million, with the state providing $2 million and remaining coming from donated funds.
- Construction of the SIU School of Dental Medicine Pediatric Surgery Center in Alton. Private money is expected to pay the project cost of $11 million.
Photo: Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker.