By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Six-Year Capital Plan approved Friday by the BGSU Board of Trustees gives a peek at what’s in store for campus.
Presented by Chief Financial Officer Sheri Stoll, the plan shows how the university will use the estimated $17.6 million in state funding included in the next biennium budget and shows what other projects the university has in store.
“The proposed Six-Year Capital Plan identifies those projects that are most important to Bowling Green State University to upgrade and enhance campus facilities and to maintain adequate campus infrastructure to meet existing and anticipated academic programmatic and instructional needs,” according to background provided to trustees.
Stoll said the current state funding will be targeted for three areas.
First is the $6 million planned to be spent ongoing multi-phase upgrade of the campus technology network. The project approved this spring is expected to take from six to 10 years to complete.
[RELATED: BGSU trustees sign off on $5.75 million facelift for ice arena]
Another $8 million will be devoted to the renovation of the Technology Building into a home for the School of Engineering. In addition, the university will spend another $800,000 of its own funds and $5.8 million of other funds, likely private donations, on the project.
The third area of focus is about $2.8 million going into the renovation of buildings in the STEM corridor.
Further details will be provided in the Campus Master Plan V. 2, which is now being developed. Stoll said in an interview after the Financial Affairs meeting, that she expects to bring the master plan to the trustees in May.
Public forums are planned for January.
Also in the interview, Stoll talked about the eventual demolition of Memorial Hall, which includes Anderson Arena.
The 63-year-old building is slated for demolition because of the continued cost of heating and maintaining it. At previous trustees meetings, Stoll has pointed to eliminating unneeded space as a necessary component to the financial health of the university.
Stoll said the building needs roof work that would cost as much as $300,000.
The building houses the university’s Army and Air Force ROTC programs. Stoll said a new location for those programs is near to being finalized. She said would be an improvement over the space in Memorial Hall.
A major roadblock is moving the gymnastics team. While the team competes in the Stroh Center, it still practices in Anderson.
There is no timeline, however, for the demolition, nor has any money been allocated to the project.
The capital budget submitted to the state also has information on projects that the university plans to undertake but will not be paid for with state dollars.
That list includes substantial investments in residential student life projects including housing, dining, and recreation. Projects in those areas have been funded by the non-profit corporation Centennial Falcon Properties. The corporation borrows money, and. the debt is then paid off by revenue generated by the facilities.
At the November Faculty Senate meeting, Provost Joe Whitehead said the university is planning for increased enrollment.
