To: Grinnell College Community
From: Russell Osgood
Date: March 2, 2004
Re: Campus Plan Update

This is another of our comprehensive, periodic updates on the status of facility projects and proposed projects for the campus. I welcome comments or questions.

I. Phase II of the Noyce Science Center

Two and one-half years ago, the Board of Trustees authorized the College to engage Holabird & Root and Research Facilities Design (the planners and designers of Phase I) to plan and design Phase II of the Noyce Science Center. In addition to the new construction on and partial renovation of the Noyce Science Center, this second phase also includes a significant upgrade of our Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) facility.

Two weeks ago, the Board authorized the College to hire a contractor, complete design, and commence construction of the CERA component of the Noyce project within the authorized budget. We hope to begin construction at CERA this May and to complete it early in 2005.

The design for the on-campus portion of Phase II of the Noyce Science Center should be completed in the spring of 2005. Assuming that we meet our fundraising goals which are significant, we anticipate commencing the main Science Center new construction in the summer of 2005 and the renovation of the 1986 wing in early 2007, when the main construction project will hopefully be concluded. We hope to complete this entire project during the winter of 2007- 08.

II. The Joe Rosenfield '25 Center

Two years ago, the College engaged Cesar Pelli and Associates to design a new campus center, to be named for the late Joe Rosenfield '25, and sited at the center of campus. We are currently nearing the end of the detailed design phase. We expect construction to begin this summer and hope it will be completed by the 2006-07 academic year. Darby Gymnasium will be demolished this summer as part of the site for the Center.

III. Phase I of the New Athletic Center

Last February, the Board authorized the College to engage Cesar Pelli and Associates and Sasaki Associates to design a new athletic center. The College has completed the conceptual design of an entirely new and unified athletic center to be built north of Tenth Avenue and to replace Darby Gymnasium initially and later the Physical Education Complex.

Last August, the Board authorized construction of the first phase of this project, which includes a performance basketball/volleyball gym, an auxiliary gymnasium, a large fitness/weight facility and related locker/support spaces.

Construction of the first phase is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2005. The Trustees have not authorized construction of the rest of the unified facility, which could be built in one or two additional phases. Construction of the remaining components, including a natatorium, a field house, additional recreation and fitness spaces, offices, and increased locker/support spaces, will not begin until significant fundraising has occurred and also in accordance with normal priority setting for College construction projects including consideration of campus disruption and other College needs.

IV. Sequencing

Last year, we engaged in a complicated process of determining where we could relocate offices and functions that will need to move primarily as a result of the construction of the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center and Phase II of the Noyce Science Center. For example, with the demolition of Darby, several offices and functions, such as the Office of Information Technology Services and KDIC, will need to move elsewhere. As a result of this process, we have begun to move the ITS staff remaining in Darby to three houses just south of 6th Avenue. This move should be completed over spring break. The staff training room is moving from Darby 202 to the Mears basement.

In addition, we recently launched the Technology Discovery Center in 1233 Park (across Eighth Avenue from Faculty House), which also houses the ITS Helpdesk and the Office of College Services. We regard these locations for ITS administration and other functions as temporary and we will need to find a permanent and consolidated location, hopefully on or near the central campus, in the next few years.

KDIC is projected to move temporarily into Younker Pit (until the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center is completed).

The Younker Memorial Resource Center is slated to be demolished this summer and the area restored to green space. The Health Center and Counseling Office will move temporarily into the lower level of the Forum, until a more permanent space is identified (which will occur before the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center is completed). The Stonewall Resource Center will temporarily move to the basement lounge on the west side of Loose Hall.

Finally, to assist us to meet our parking needs, last summer, we completed several new parking areas around campus, all consistent with the parking plans approved by the Parking Committee. The Parking Committee is currently discussing the need for additional parking areas, including locations near the new East Campus residence halls and Norris.

V. Bookstore and Library Storage

Although no final decision has been made, we are unlikely to move the bookstore from its present site and are presently considering several sites for library and other quality storage.

RKO:ss