Trustees approve Briscoe repairs

Students currently living in Briscoe Quad dormitory can now sleep easy and rest assured, the roof above them, thought to have potential problems in the near future, is about to be replaced.\nThe IU board of trustees met at IU-Purdue University Fort Wayne for their monthly meeting Friday and Saturday and discussed the roof replacement as well as construction on the new Simon Hall.\nThe facilities committee raised a major concern about the Bloomington campus, specifically Briscoe Quad. The immediate need to replace the roof on the Briscoe Quad dormitory was unanimously approved by the board. \nA ballasted membrane roof system will be installed on the A and B Briscoe buildings, and on the center of the C building according to the board of trustees agenda. Additionally, the sundecks on top of the buildings are no longer necessary. The existing fencing around the roofs will also be removed. \nPresident of the board of trustees Frederick Eichhorn, Jr. said the main concern with Briscoe is that roofs eventually wear out over time. \n"We are always behind in maintenance," Eichhorn said. "It is difficult because we receive very little money from the state for repairs and renovations."\nThe project is estimated to cost $580,000 and will be funded by the Department of Residential Programs and Services.\nTrustee Sue A. Talbot said it is important to keep the dormitories in good shape for the students.\n"We want students to have optimal living conditions," Talbot said.\nEichhorn said the project to renovate the roof on Briscoe will begin as soon as possible. He said the project will be put out for bids and a contract will be rewarded before construction begins.\n"This project won't have a direct affect on the students, except to provide them with comfort and safety," Eichhorn said.\nThe board of trustees also discussed the overview of several capital projects, including Simon Hall, the $54 million multidisciplinary science building. This building is currently under construction in the heart of campus behind Meyers Hall. \nEichhorn said there was a great deal of consideration taken when deciding where and how the building would be constructed. Two-thirds of the building is being built underground in order to provide adequate space.\n"Scientists like the idea that this building will put them on a rock base, because it is good for experimentation," Eichhorn said.\nThe new lab-focused science building will also provide a new sense of hope for research issues at IU. Eichhorn said a large problem this campus faces is the lack of grants for research and limited lab space. He said this building will be a great help to attract researchers, research grants and lab space to the campus.\nTalbot said the new buildings are necessary because they enable teachers to provide students with the best learning experience possible.\n"We try to keep the integrity of the programs at the highest level, so students are able to receive the highest quality of education," Talbot said.\n-- Contact staff writer Kristin Huett at khuett@indiana.edu.