University Hall:A Building Rebornfor <strong>Education</strong>10 http://coe.indstate.edu
After closing its doors to educating local elementary schoolstudents in 1992, Indiana State University’s LaboratorySchool, now known as University Hall, is undergoinga renovation to house the college that turns out teachers andadministrators.The building was at one time home to K-12 students.State High, which educated the upper grades, closed in 1978.The middle school grades werediscontinued in 1990-91. Then theschool closed for good in 1992after almost 60 years <strong>of</strong> educatingstudents.“Each loss was painfuland regretted by much <strong>of</strong> thecommunity,” said Stanley Evans,who taught at the school and nowis an ISU associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong>English.Greg Ulm, who was principal atthe school and now an ISU facultyemeritus, recalled the feelings <strong>of</strong> lossat the school’s closing.“I realized how significant thework <strong>of</strong> the Laboratory School hadbeen for many years, the exceptionalfaculty, the many students whocontributed to and grew from theexperience and the many collegestudents who gained insight intoteaching and loving all kinds <strong>of</strong>students,” he said. “It was clear thatall we had done to sustain this workhad not been successful in the manner in which we had hoped. Italso seemed important to honor our shared memories and to workto heal our grief and sorrow.”University Hall was a building reborn in 2006 when itbecame the largest state-funded project in the university’s historyas <strong>of</strong>ficials sought to renovate it for the <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong>. TheState Budget Committee approved the release <strong>of</strong> $26.88 million inbonding authority for the project. The remaining $2.92 million <strong>of</strong>the project will be paid for out <strong>of</strong> university funds.“It’s symbolic that we’re moving into a building that’s wholeintentional purpose was to meet the clinical teaching and learningneeds <strong>of</strong> our program, which still remains our very identity,” said<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Dean Brad Balch.Ulm said the move also provides an opportunity for thecollege to experience other growth.“For me, our return to a site where we make something new<strong>of</strong> our history is also an opportunity for our college to considerhow we might be different in how we think, work together, teachand nurture our students and one another,” he said. “It would notbe enough for me to just move my stuff. I think I would want tomove myself to be something more, different, making change thatgains new opportunity.”The $29.8 million renovation project began in June with aninterior demolition <strong>of</strong> the building. Work crews now are paintingclassrooms and <strong>of</strong>fices within the building. Steve Culp, IndianaState University construction manager, said the renovation projectIndiana State University<strong>Sycamore</strong> <strong>Educator</strong>should be completed in May 2009 and in use for the fall 2009semester.Since 1976, the <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Education</strong> has been housed in a15-story former residence hall. The <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> Business, locatedin the adjoining tower, will move into the downtown FederalBuilding, and the twin towers will be razed. The moves areexpected to save the university and the state about $900,000 eachyear in repair and rehabilitationcosts, with additional savingsexpected in utilities.In addition to the classroomsand <strong>of</strong>fices throughout the building,two amenities will bring addedattraction to the building.Culp called the atrium a“focal point” for University Hall.The open-air plaza encircled byUniversity Hall will be turned into asteel and glass enclosed atrium withnine 30-foot by 18 ½ foot skylightsalong with climate control andirrigation systems.“It will be 72 degrees all yeararound,” Culp said.Faculty members signed steelbeams that cranes then lifted intoplace to form the framework for theatrium’s glass ceiling in November.The second amenity involvesa remodel <strong>of</strong> the hall’s auditorium,which will combine the technology<strong>of</strong> the new with the 1930s’ aesthetic.“This is another focal point,” Culp said as he looked aroundthe water-damaged auditorium. “It has been vacant for a longtime.”That part <strong>of</strong> the project calls for refurbishing woodworkand plaster throughout what will be a 445-seat auditorium withDr. Greg Ulmstands justoutside thedoor to the oldLab School, <strong>of</strong>which he was thelast principal.Renovations <strong>of</strong>the building arecurrently underwayto make itthe new home forthe <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Education</strong>.http://coe.indstate.edu 11
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