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Valparaiso University breaks ground for $74 million Union building


From <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>
Date Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:52:57 -0600

ELCA News Blog

November 21, 2006

Valparaiso University breaks ground for $74 million Union building

by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service

Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., has begun construction of a new Union building on the site of the former Moellering Library. The university's Web site includes a Union project Web page with a webcam of the construction site, video of the news conference announcing the project and more information.

A Valparaiso University news release said, "Total cost of the project is approximately $74 million, which includes construction of the 202,000 square-foot, two-story building in addition to expenditures for furnishings, kitchen equipment, development of supporting campus infrastructure, site preparation, professional fees and an endowment fund to support building operations. The new facility will more than triple the usable space available in the current Union, which opened in 1955." The new building will include a cafe, a main dining room, a multipurpose banquet hall, the Book Center, a mailbox for each student living on campus, an office suite for the Career Center, office space for Union and Dining Services, and program space for the Office of International Studies, Office of Multicultural Programs, student government and other student organizations. A second floor outdoor terrace will face south toward the Chapel of the Resurrection and the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources. The project is expected to take nearly two years.

The design and appearance of the new building will be in keeping with the standards set by other recent construction, said Dr. Alan Harre, president, Valparaiso University. "Construction of the Center for the Arts (which opened in 1995) set a new standard for the quality of campus facilities," he said. "We raised the bar with the construction of the Christopher Center (2004), and we're raising it again with the new Union." Harre said, "I am confident that the new building will greatly enhance the sense of community on campus, partly because of its location in a high traffic area but primarily because of the attention the architects have given to creating a warm, welcoming feeling with plenty of gathering spaces." He added that plans for the current Union building will be developed as the new facility nears completion.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog


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