Renovations seek to revive Old Crescent

The IU administration is working to revitalize the Old Crescent to restore its historical purpose as an academic hub.

The initiative to create more classroom space on the west side of campus is an effort to welcome students back into the historic area that is the Old Crescent, which includes Franklin, Kirkwood and Owen halls.  

“From the Master Planner’s perspective, and we agree with him, it’s important to revitalize this old historic area,” said Paul Sullivan, deputy vice president for capital planning and facilities. “It was getting to the point that the students weren’t coming into this area.”

The Old Crescent consists of buildings constructed as early as 1884 and is composed of Franklin Hall, Maxwell Hall, Owen Hall, Wylie Hall, Kirkwood Hall, Lindley Hall, Swain East and West, Rawles Hall and the Student Building.

The renovations in Franklin Hall are purposed for the proposed merger of the departments of telecommunications, communication and culture and the School of Journalism, which the Board of Trustees is expected to vote on in October.

This building will house classrooms for the proposed school, as well as student media newsrooms and faculty offices.

“I’m happier in more modern classrooms, so I hope that with the renovations the infrastructure is more homey and appealing to the eyes,” Allen Shoup, a junior majoring in journalism, said. “I’ve been spoiled at Ernie Pyle with great Apple labs and very upscale classrooms, so I’d be sad to see that change.”

The renovations to Franklin Hall are expected to be completed by the end of this school year, Sullivan said.

Next door, the Student Building has traded in its old swimming pool for a collaborative learning center. This new classroom aims to use technology and hands-on learning to effectively teach and influence students of the 21st century. Sociology professor Jessica Calarco will be teaching a class this semester in the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

“I believe that this renovation is important in that it shows the university’s commitment to supporting innovative approaches to teaching and learning,” Calarco said. “These kinds of spaces inspire faculty members to be more creative teachers, and inspire students to be more engaged and involved learners. I am also hopeful that the Old
Crescent will not be the only space to undergo this kind of twenty-first century revitalization.”

Also among the Old Crescent projects, Owen Hall was completely renovated last spring for the offices of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Sullivan said.  

“There will be some follow-up projects in the next year,” Sullivan said. “We’re going to be redoing the front and back entrances and maybe the windows.”

Next on the university’s radar will be renovations to Kirkwood Hall.

“We have to find the money for it,” Sullivan said. “We won’t hire an architect until maybe late spring, then it’ll be another six to eight months before we start construction.”

IU junior and human biology major Adam Buck does not see himself taking advantage of the new space in the Old Crescent, simply because of location.

“It’s a hard area to get to no matter what mode of transportation you use. I live on greek row, so it’s basically the opposite side of campus,” Buck said. “If I were to live out in that direction in an apartment or something, I wouldn’t mind it.”

University officials believe IU’s efforts in the Old Crescent will bring students into the area, whether they be future media students or those who want to take advantage of an innovative learning space.

“Moving the journalism and the telecommunications into Franklin is a big change,” Sullivan said. “The classroom in the Student Building is going to be heavily used.
That’s the whole intent. We’re following the Master Plan.”

Students can find information on current and upcoming projects through the IUB Master Plan, found on the university’s website.

Follow reporter Hannah Alani on Twitter @alohalanii.