As summer construction wraps up on some facilities at Illinois State University, work is continuing or beginning on other projects.
Here is an update on six projects from David Gill, Illinois State’s director of Facilities, Planning, Design, and Construction.
Redbird Esports in the Bowling and Billiards Center
Work is finishing on the $4.5 million renovation to the Bowling and Billiards Center (BBC) to transform the event room in the building’s south end into an arena and gaming area for the Redbird Esports program.
The esports space, set to officially open in October, will be one of the largest of its kind in the nation at over 11,000 square feet. It will feature 72 high-end gaming PCs, dedicated team showcase spaces, the most popular and latest generation gaming consoles, space for tabletop games, a broadcast and production booth, and student support rooms.
As part of the project, the entire Bowling and Billiards Center has undergone renovation and updated, branded signage, including in the 10-lane bowling section and the 12-table billiard section. Additionally, three table tennis tables have been added.
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Rehabilitation Project
The $67.3 million Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Rehabilitation Project continues to move forward, with architects completing plans for the Center for the Performing Arts, Centennial West, Centennial East, and the Center for the Visual Arts. The University is also supporting the partial renovation of Cook Hall to facilitate the completion of the overall Fine Arts Rehabilitation Project.
The Wonsook Kim School of Art, School of Theatre and Dance, School of Music, and Creative Technologies Program will all see improvements to their teaching, exhibition, and performance spaces. The multiyear project is expected to begin by late summer 2023 and be completed in two years.
To prepare for construction, in summer 2022 classes, faculty, and staff impacted by the project were moved to Milner Library, Julian Hall, and the former Weaver’s building located just east of Hancock Stadium.
Mennonite Lab Building
Work is underway on an $18 million project to expand the Mennonite College of Nursing Lab Building by 16,000 square feet. Over the summer, the University demolished a vacant house and apartment building immediately west of the current lab, which opened in 2011, north of the Bone Student Center parking lot, and moved the existing lab to the northwest corner of the project site so the new building can be connected to the existing building.
Beginning in summer 2023, a modern brick building will be constructed alongside and connected to the current lab. Expected to be completed by summer 2024, the new facility will increase the college’s capacity to educate nursing students and to prepare them to function in a vast array of clinical settings utilizing the latest technology. Students will continue using the current lab during construction of the new building.
Indoor practice facility
Construction has begun on the $11.5 million Athletics indoor practice facility, located north of Horton Field House on the former football practice field.
After receiving donor support from entrepreneur Dee Miller, his wife Sheila Marshall-Miller ’94, and former Illinois State student-athlete and professional football player Amin Babjide (B. J.) Bello, the University broke ground in April, with construction expected to be completed by summer 2023.
The heated, air supported structure will feature a 100-yard turf practice football field with a single end zone and run off areas. The facility will ease congestion for teams currently using Horton Field House as an indoor practice area.
College of Engineering building
The first phase of pre-construction is underway for renovation of the John Green Building and the Carter Harris Administration Building to house Illinois State’s new College of Engineering, expected to open in 2025.
South campus housing-dining project
Work is in the first stage of a project to construct a 1,200-bed residential hall and a 700-seat dining center at the former site of the Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten Residence Halls and Feeney Dining Center.
