New Building

COJMC faculty meet building's architects, construction managers

By Charlyne Berens
Alumni News editor

Faculty and staff had their appetites for the college’s new building whetted Friday, Oct. 15, when they met with architects, contractors and construction managers to discuss plans for the college’s new home.

Based on his judgments of previous work by the architect and contractor, Dean Will Norton promised a “gourmet building,” well beyond just “meat and potatoes”—and all within the $8.6 million total project cost approved by the NU Board of Regents.

Alan Wade, NU’s project manager for the renovation project, said he expected planning to proceed rapidly so that asbestos removal, the first stage of the project, could begin in late spring or early summer—as soon as the building’s current occupant, Security Mutual Insurance, moves out. December 2001 is the target date for the college’s move to the renovated building, to be known as Andersen Hall in honor of journalism alumni Harold and Marian Andersen.

Built in 1957, the building consists of more than 47,000 square feet on four floors. It is situated on Centennial Mall, between P and Q streets.

Steve Hiemer of Builders Inc. will serve as construction manager for the project. That means the time NU usually spends in advertising for bids and negotiating prices will be cut, said Doug Beals of the university’s planning department. Hiemer will also be sure the project stays on budget and that the college will encounter no surprises or disappointments, Beals said.

Linda Shipley, associate dean, said she and other college representatives who had been involved in the planning were excited about the possibilities. She said the new building would “give us a presence on the campus we haven’t had before.”

Wade said the design team was ready to start working and that everyone involved with the project wanted input from faculty and staff.

“We want everybody to be part of this because it’s part of everybody,” he said.