December 28, 2024
Local News

NIU officials: No timeline set for Stevens Building construction

By RHONDA GILLESPIE
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Architect Ben Ritter, Northern Illinois University Stevens Building project manager, watches how River City Construction is expanding the upper floor Monday to prepare to winterize the building. Construction was halted June 30 because of the state budget impasse and it will cost $300,000 to winterize the building. (Danielle Guerra)

DeKalb – State money has been appropriated to work on the $27.4 million Stevens Building project at Northern Illinois University, but university officials still are unsure when construction would start up again and finally be completed.

“There have been no announcements on timelines or when construction will resume,” said Capital Development Board spokeswoman Allie Bovis.

CBD, a state agency, is managing and funding the project. East Peoria-based River City Construction is doing the work.

With the stopgap budget that was passed June 30, NIU is set to get $15.5 million for the construction project – which first was announced in 2010. NIU held a groundbreaking in 2014, but work came to a standstill June 2015 after the state failed to pass a budget. This project was among several that was halted.

“Before an announcement can be made [to resume construction], there are still a number of processes that CDB has to go through. CDB is currently working through those processes,” Bovis said.

The agency gave NIU permission – but no money – last fall to winterize the construction work that had already been done. Last November, NIU trustees approved spending $300,000 to winterize the work.

Before the work stalled last year, NIU officials looked forward to the building being open at the start of the 2016–17 academic year. But even with the current uncertainty surrounding the project, officials are hopeful.

“We are very excited to see work resume on the Stevens Building. It’s a very important academic building, especially for students in the performing arts, and we are eager to have it back online,” NIU spokesman Joe King said.

One portion of the former L-shaped building was torn down, with a two-story building going up in its place, and another part of it is being renovated. The building housed the Department of Anthropology and School of Theater and Dance, which have been temporarily relocated.

Plans for the building and renovation project include putting in a new auditorium, installation of state-of-the-art technology, roofing work, as well as modernized plumbing and electrical systems, and upgrades to the heating, cooling and ventilation system, according to information NIU provided about the project.

Additionally, the adjacent theater would be expanded, and classrooms and laboratories in the building would get a makeover and be reconfigured.

NIU also wants to redo its Holmes Student Center, deemed to be the heart of the campus. The university would use the $20 million it has leftover from Build America bond money to pay for the first phase.

King said the idea will be presented in September to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for approval.

“Once the IBHE approves the Holmes Student Center project, the next step would be to finalize the plans and drawing so that the project could go out to bid,” he said.

Phase I of the multimillion dollar project is estimated to cost $16 million to $20 million and would include mostly redoing the ground-level with the addition of more eateries in an extended marketplace, expanded lounging areas, a suite of rooms for student organizations offices and activities, and improved waiting area near the university-run bus terminal, according to Norm Jenkins, who served as acting director of HSC before retiring last month.