Gary Burgdorf, construction administrator for facilities operations and planning, looked on in admiration as he talked about the expansion of the University Center.

“It’s been one big experiment after another,” Burgdorf said, elaborating on how the architects involved in the UC expansion have chosen new and edgy styles for many parts of the interior and exterior architecture.

Burgdorf is the head of construction for the UC expansion that started May of 2009.  The expansion will add offices, meeting rooms and student lounge areas.

According to Burgdorf, almost all of the offices will be lined with decorative poplar wood, which is indigenous to this area.

Glass panel windows, which can be seen from the outside have a “jewel box look” with different shades of blue, green and clear glass, Burgdorf said.

Creative light fixtures made of old chair legs from a Jasper furniture company will be accented with lime green paint.

“(The fixtures will) literally create a floral arrangement,” Burgdorf said.

Clay tiling will cover the exposed columns inside the dining area in the center. Interesting stone tiles cover a portion of the walls inside, each tile a different color and shape.

The UC will house new offices for The Shield, SGA, APB and other student organizations, along with many more meeting and conference rooms.

The main floor area that connects with the old UC will consist of the two new restaurants, Salsa Rico and Cyclone Salads and large dining and lounging areas where students can sit, eat and hang out with friends.

According to Burgdorf, another interesting incorporation to the building is small floor boxes where wiring can be conveniently strung through the ground instead of across the floor which will save space and prevent tripping hazard.

The cost for the UC expansion is $17.7 million. 

“We’re going to open this building as quickly as we can,” Burgdorf said in the Feb. 25 issue of The Shield.

The architectural firm of Holzman Moss of New York City designed the new structure and the project engineers are Hafer Associates of Evansville.

The other main construction project taking place on campus, the new Business and Engineering Center, is also coming along nicely according to Burgdorf.

When students walk into the main entrance of the Business and Engineering center facing Reflection Lake, they will be standing in the O’Daniel Atrium.

Burgdorf said D. Patrick and Rosemary O’Daniel donated $500,000 to the Campaign for the College of Business and General Classroom Building, a campaign to help fund the new building.

From the atrium students can look up into the second, third and fourth floors.

All exterior rooms will get enough natural light so that very little false lighting will be needed during the day. Smaller rooms in the interior of the building also allow natural light in to efficiently keep the interior of the building well lit Burgdorf said.

This $29.9 million building will host numerous classrooms on the first and second floors, and the third and fourth will house offices for faculty and adjuncts.

The new Business and Engineering Center will be ready for classes in the fall 2010 semester with the UC expansion expected to be finished this October.

Source: The Shield