Julian Addition and New Art Building Continue to Progress

May 23, 2002

May 23, 2002, Greencastle, Ind. - It's full steam ahead for two ambitious construction projects on the DePauw University campus, one that will renovate and expand the Julian Science and Mathematics Center and another that creates a new building for the teaching, creation and exhibition of art. Crews are wrapping up work in the 120,000 square feet of new space in the Julian Center, which features a three-story atrium (seen in photo at left).

Frederick M. Soster, professor and chair of geology and geography, is supervising the Julian project. [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Project Update" 1100KB] "We have started relocating people, laboratories and services into the new additions," he reports. "This includes the departments of geology, computer science, [and] mathematics. We're relocating the chemistry storeroom as well." Dr. Soster says the move began this week, and will take approximately a month to complete. After that, work will begin on "phase two, which involves demolition and remodeling of the south interior half of the building." The project should be completed in time for the fall 2003 semester.

The front of the building, which was created during phase one of the project, will be ready to welcome students through its doors in the fall of 2002. Soster says the plan is to have phase one work completed [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "New Portions" 611KB] "by August 15th, so that when students arrive back on campus, they'll be using the new portions of the building. [DOWNLOAD VIDEO: "Students" 491KB] Students will be meeting their professors in their [new] offices [and] they will be having classes in the new portion of the building."

The new space is built around a center atrium with a central staircase. The atrium includes a view out onto College Street and Bowman Park from each level of the building. When finished, glass railings will line each floor and offices and classrooms will occupy the spaces adjacent to the atrium. Also added have been many new, larger windows, both into faculty offices and to the outside. The innovative structure will also serve as a home base for 361°, DePauw's technology initiatives.

 The only drawbacks for the project have been the result of recent wet weather, which Soster says has [DOWNLOAD AUDIO: "Weather Issues" 387KB] "slowed down exterior brick work. That, in turn, has slowed down installation of the windows. That, in turn, has slowed down some of the interior work around the windows. But overall, we've had a pretty good year for construction," he notes.

 Behind the Julian Center, workers are also busy constructing DePauw's new art center at the southeast corner of Jackson and Hanna Streets, which is set to open this fall. The two-story, 80 thousand square foot structure will provide space for the teaching of art history and studio art, including the addition of sculpture as an area of specialty in studio art.

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