Trustees approve renovations to Mechanical Engineering Building at Purdue West Lafayette, preparatory actions for new residence hall at Purdue Fort Wayne

The project will renovate approximately 41,000 square feet on multiple floors. Specifically, improved instructional spaces that include labs and classrooms will be relocated to the ground and first floors, with new collaboration space nearby. Several offices will be renovated, and a new stairway will connect the Mechanical Engineering Building to the Gatewood addition. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems also will be upgraded.

The renovation will result in increased space efficiency and flexibility while accommodating more students per assigned square foot within the existing building footprint.

The estimated total project cost is $25 million and will be financed from gift funds. Construction is expected to begin in July 2023 with completion in February 2025.

In other action, trustees approved actions preparatory to project commencement for a new residence hall at Purdue Fort Wayne. Following further and final approvals, which will be sought later, this project would construct a new residence hall to address increased demand for on-campus housing while enhancing student success and recruitment.

The facility would include approximately 370 beds and be located in the core of the Fort Wayne campus. The current campus housing inventory consists of only apartment-style units.

A new residence hall on the main campus is an outcome of Purdue Fort Wayne’s 2019 Campus Master Plan, which aligns the physical campus with the goals of PFW’s Strategic Plan 2020–25.

Additionally, trustees approved renaming Recitation Hall to Helen B. Schleman Hall. Renovations to the existing Schleman Hall of Student Services, which will transform it to the new and expanded home for Purdue’s rapidly growing data science program, are scheduled to begin in February 2023. At that time, the Office of the Dean of Students will move to the current Recitation Hall as its permanent home. The name change will ensure that Purdue continues to honor the legacy and leadership of Dean Emerita Helen B. Schleman, who served the university as director of women’s residence halls, dean of women and director of Span Plan. 

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