10th, Bypass building aims to attract students

The Cyberinfrastructure Building is the first of its kind on the IU campus. With its open layout, the CIB is a new model for working and collaborating at IU, said Susan Coleman Morse, project manager of sustainability and services at University Information Technology Services.

“It is an opportunity for us to not only embody the future of technology but also to encourage collaboration,” she said. “Its open-floor layout allows for flexibility. There are re-configurable meeting rooms and numerous conference rooms that allow for video bridges and conference calls.”

Collaboration, creativity and flexibility are the three goals of the new infrastructure, Coleman Morse said.

“It feeds into a larger vision that President McRobbie had when he was the vice
president of IT,” she said. “It brings people under one roof. The IT department moved from eight buildings into one.”

With an IT help desk, CIB will not rely entirely on online assistance. Instead, a front desk will be staffed to assist with technical problems, Coleman Morse said.

Located on what used to be a parking lot, the CIB was designed to be a collaborative workspace with a variety of seating, RPS food service and wireless access, Coleman Morse said.

“The wireless access throughout the building and patio allows for staff and visitors to work remotely on the deck,” she said. “There are a variety of multimedia presentation screens in Wrubel Commons.”

Tours of the building’s Leed Certification Project are given during the building’s hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Coleman Morse said.

“I’ve been able to give several tours to students interested in sustainable communities and interior design,” she said. “Student visitors are the most enthusiastic on tours. They are able to see things they read about in class.”

The building is located at 10th Street and the Bypass, but Coleman Morse said the location isn’t an issue as Bloomington Transit’s 6 and 9 buses stop near the building.
“There is bus access every 10 to 12 minutes,” she said. “It is incredibly easy to get back to campus.”

Coleman Morse said while it is very common to see students grab a bite to eat or meet a friend, she hopes to see more students utilize the space.

The building, which was dedicated Oct. 12, was designed to add more trees, Coleman Morse said.

“There are more native plants to the architecture of the University, and this is a model of the future,” she said.

Coleman Morse said it has been good to see the building and department change during the last year and a half.

“It has been great to work with colleagues on all levels of the organization to create something new,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what will happen next.”