Huntington College announces new Facilities Master Plan

Huntington, Ind. " Huntington College officials today announced a new Facilities Master Plan. The document presents a roadmap for the campus' future growth and development over the next ten years.

Tom Ayers, vice president for business and finance, released the details of the plan at this morning's breakfast meeting of the Huntington College Foundation. Key provisions include:

Major renovations to Becker Hall, the college's historic administration building

A new freestanding chapel along Lake Sno-Tip

Expansion of the Merillat Centre for the Arts, providing additional labs and classrooms for all communication
and fine arts programs

New student housing to be constructed as enrollment increases

Renovations of the Huntington Union Building, or HUB,
to better serve student needs

Expansion of the weight room and equipment storage space at the Merillat Physical Education and Recreation Complex

Creation of a symbolic campus gateway

Landscaping improvements along the College's highway frontage

In addition, the 2002 Facilities Master Plan establishes enrollment-driven guidelines for the expansion of existing campus facilities, such as the Habecker Dining Commons. Finally, the plan identifies strategic locations for additional classroom buildings and residence halls as needs arise in the future.

In light of the growth in student enrollment, academic programs and faculty and staff, it is important for us to carefully plan for the future and once again dare to dream, said Huntington College President G. Blair Dowden. I believe this Facilities Master Plan lays out a bold and exciting vision for the development of our campus.

Our current campus facilities stand as a testimony to the value of planning and God's faithfulness in honoring such efforts, Dowden added. Over the past six years, we have seen God's hand in bringing into reality a new perimeter road, Meadows Hall, Miller Hall, and most recently, the Science Hall.

Ayers emphasized that the planning document was not an absolute directive for future construction. This is a road map to guide the future development of the campus, he said. We are confident about future enrollment growth, but we are not precisely certain when these new facilities will be needed. He noted that the 2002 Facilities Master Plan focuses on property already owned by the College.

The Board of Trustees will use this Facilities Master Plan as a tool to exercise good stewardship of available resources, he said. The new chapel, located on the shores of Lake Sno-Tip, will become the central physical anchor point of the campus and serve to emphasize the College's Christ-centered mission.

Since 1993, enrollment at Huntington College has steadily risen from 575 to 1,016. As enrollment continues to increase, new facilities will be developed and existing buildings will be renovated as needed.

Additional residence halls are projected to cost between $2.8 million and $5.6 million each, depending on size and configuration. Construction of a new chapel, plus renovations to Becker Hall, the fine arts center, student union, and recreation complex could cost between $23.5 million and $36.3 million. In addition, the Facilities Master Plan calls for an operating endowment to generate income to offset the expected costs of operating and maintaining each new project.

Gifts, grants, and pledges to Huntington College's recently concluded capital campaign totaled $44.7 million. That campaign resulted in a new 91,000 square foot Science Hall, extensive renovations to Brenn Hall, a new perimeter road, and a significant expansion of the College's endowment.

The Facilities Master Plan was developed with assistance from InterDesign, an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Huntington College is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 60 academic concentrations. US News & World Report ranks Huntington among the Top 10 comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington College is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in Huntington, Indiana.