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Groundbreaking Planned For USI's Business and Engineering Center A groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Southern Indiana's new Business and Engineering Center will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the southwest corner of the USI Quadrangle next to the Technology Center. A reception will follow and the public is invited. The 122,500 square foot Business and Engineering Center will serve both business and engineering programs interdependently, providing dedicated and shared classroom and laboratory space. Funding of the $31.9 million building was approved by the General Assembly with supplemental support of $2 million raised by business and private contributions for programmatic needs. Situated between the Technology Center and the Liberal Arts Center and facing the University Center, the four-story addition to the USI campus will complete the USI Quadrangle, along with the David L. Rice Library. The building will promote collaboration between faculty and students in the College of Business and the Pott College of Science and Engineering and support integration between business, technology, and engineering with a goal of increasing innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College, said, "The co-location of business and engineering in this facility was purposeful. We are living in a science and technology-based economy where collaboration in design, development, marketing, and business planning is a necessity. We're going to give students the experience of being involved in a product from design to development to marketing to sales." The Business and Engineering Center will include two engineering teaching computer labs, three business teaching computer labs, and one shared computer lab. There will be two business labs, 15 engineering labs, four business classrooms, three engineering classrooms, one general classroom, two tiered classrooms, and offices for 92 faculty members. Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business, said, “The new building will be a tremendous addition to our campus. It will allow us to enhance the educational experiences of our students with some of the most advanced learning support environments.” Engineering-specific spaces include an environmental engineering lab, vibrations lab (a lab that tests the effect vibrations such as earthquakes and sound waves have on various materials), computer-aided drawing (CAD) labs, biomechanics lab, fluid mechanics lab, heat/thermodynamics lab, communications lab, digital systems lab, optics/modern physics lab and classroom, power and machines lab and classroom, surveying lab, materials testing lab, and a design center. Specialized spaces for the business curriculum include a set of sales suites, a decision support/negotiations lab, a project management lab, a Web development lab, a computer hardware/software lab, an entrepreneurship lab, a sales lab, a stock market simulation room, and a lecture hall. Signature features of the building include an atrium, a central area connecting all floors in the building with a monumental stair; a 52-seat board room on the third floor; and the Lakeside Study Lounge and Balcony, offering views of Reflection Lake from an enclosed outdoor space at the lower level as well as a balcony on the second floor. "Green" elements were included in the design as well. The building incorporates extensive day lighting of interior spaces. Light fixtures are controlled by sensors and time clocks. All mechanical and electrical systems are designed to conserve energy use. Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems incorporate fresh air intakes, flexible control systems for maximum comfort, and variable frequency drive motors which utilize more or less power based on need. There will be a "green" or living roof above the mechanical room. Construction and finish materials are sustainable. Hafer Associates, PC, is the project architect, mechanical and electrical engineer. St. Louis-based Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) is associate architect and designer. The Businesses and Engineering Center is expected to be complete in 2010. The Evansville Museum Contemporaries hosted the first in a series of parties the group has planned at the Evansville Museum's Begley Art Source, which is located on the top floor of the Curtis Building in Downtown Evansville. The party was a fun atmosphere with cocktails and food, music and conversation. The Contemporaries tapped into the memberships of several organizations that encouraged their members to stop by after work to network and enjoy the art. Those represented included the Young Evansville Professionals, Rotoract, Univerity of Southern Indiana Alumni Association and the Junior League of Evansville, as well as members of the public. Some of those attending the party were Gail Reicken, Evelyn Walker, Stephanie Morris, Dennis and Patty Avery, Laura Brumfield, Alex Clayton, Mary Ann Brumfield and Barb Ensner. Also at the gallery were Patricia and Patrick Jackson, Marilyn Sadler, Lana Abel, Barbara and Steve Cochran, Barbara Carper, Amy Musia, J.D. Opel and Caitlyn Poe. The Contemporaries hope to spread the word about these informal gatherings to show off the new gallery and the artists they represent. Wildflower enthusiasts convened at Oaklyn Branch Library last week to explore the meadow of native plants covering the library's green roof. Their efforts were assisted by Master Gardener Debbie Goedde and branch manager Pam Locker. Oaklyn Branch Library is built into the hillside surrounding it, and the roof is partially covered by the native mesic prairie habitat. About 20 people turned out to walk through the meadow as Goedde identified plants, answered questions and gave tips on cultivating native plants and wildflowers. The USI Alumni Association organized a trip to Churchill Downs last Saturday afternoon that included a lunch buffet on Millionaires Row and reserved seating overlooking the finish line. Nancy Johnson, alumni association director, said about 130 alums and friends of the University attended, including some from the Louisville, Ky., area. A group traveled on a motorcoach from Evansville, including Nancy Koehler, Angie Hofman, Jean Blanton, Doris and Elmer Halwes, Pat and Bill Wilson, Darla and Stephen Woodall, Sherrianne and Barry Standley, Vic Schriefer and Wilder, Janel and Jessica Allen. The 2008 Multiple Sclerosis Society Luncheon chairwomen Heather Todd, Stephanie Morris, Stephanie Mosbacher and Lisa Vaughan staged a successful event at Bonefish Grill last week. Bonefish Grill managing owner Scott West graciously opened his restaurant for the luncheon of about 80 guests who contributed to the society. Opening remarks by Todd, who is the community development manager for the National MS Society, were followed by speakers Tony Maslan and Sally Becker. Attending the luncheon were Stan Levco, Frank McDonald, Erika Taylor, Crunchy Wells, Sarah Herdes, Kirsten Wagmeister, Kelly Gates, Jamie Wicks, Jackie Overstreet, Kathy Briscoe, Gretchen Muchnick, Melissa Wagner, Cheryl Voight, Janet Keller, Jody Honnigford and Elizabeth Lyon. |