University senate met Monday afternoon to re-visit the construction of a Bicentennial Student Center (BSC), where University Architect Bob Keller revealed plans and costs for the project have changed dramatically.
Keller walked through changes made to plans for a BSC and unveiled a new budget plan approximately $42.7 million cheaper than its predecessor.
Although initial estimates in April 2008 called for an $89.6 million student center, Keller said the first architect's plans totaled $120.4 million. That figure is now being reduced to $77.7 million.
"This was too large of a number," Keller said. "We decided to re-visit the idea and planned in June to build a new structure, much smaller than previously designed."
The new structure, prospectively located between Gaskill, Culler and Rowan halls, would not require the demolition of any existing buildings, as was originally planned according to Keller. The BSC structure will instead renovate Gaskill, Culler and Rowan halls and include them within the BSC structure.
"An exact design has yet to be decided upon," Keller said. "But, students will still be able to recognize pre-existing buildings."
While designs are in the works for a new student center, the finances are not in place for construction to begin, according to David Creamer, vice president of finance and business services.
"The timeline is a lot more complex than the previous timeline," Creamer said. "For the project to stay on schedule, there would need to be an investment by this coming spring."
Student centers inherently cost more to operate than other buildings, Creamer said, adding that approximately $15 million must be pledged for any construction to begin on the BSC.
Miami has raised $2 million for the BSC so far, but Creamer explained the operation is still awaiting a major gift.
Creamer stressed plans would not proceed until fiscal requirements are met.
"There is no intent to move further into the design stage until there is enough evidence for support, and there is a funding source approved by the board for the project to move ahead," Creamer said.
The project, which had been divided into two phases, would not see completion until 2015 at the earliest, according to the plan outlined by Creamer and Keller. Additionally, budget projections would require students to shell out $51 per semester to support operating costs, a prospect that Student Body President Jonathan McNabb is investigating.
McNabb has been part of an effort with Brailsford & Dunlavey, a professional facility planning company, to survey Miami students on what value they place in campus amenities.
"Student government is working … to ask current students what will they be willing to pay," McNabb said.
McNabb was not the only senate member questioning specifics of the BSC. Mary Bonham, assistant professor of architecture and interior design, asked if new technologies would be used in the BSC's contruction.
Keller assured design architects for the project are dedicated to sustainable design.
"There would be minimum of a silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the end of the project," Keller said. "We would get a lot of points for the re-use of buildings."
Creamer said similar student centers at surrounding schools fueled the BSC's proposal.
The University of Akron, Wright State, Ohio State, Ohio University, Shawnee State and Bowling Green State University have all opened or are working on new student centers, according to Creamer.
As Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Jones explained, Miami's current student center is smaller than surrounding universities with respect to space per student.
"Our student center offers 6.5 square feet per student, compared to our peers who have approximately 12 feet per student," Jones said.
