Construction projects begin

@bodytext: A chain of related construction projects began yesterday when the Institute for Global Leadership started moving from its building on Professor's Row to its new location on Packard Ave. The construction schedule, which also includes building a new house for the Zeta Psi fraternity, a music center, and a new dormitory, depends on the University's ability to raise sufficient funding.

The new space features 12 new offices, a small lecture hall, and an additional workspace for visiting scholars and special projects.

The new building is "in every way superior to the old one," said Sherman Teichman, director of Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC), which operates out of the Institute's building. The move's timing _ just two weeks before EPIIC's culminating symposium _ has presented some challenges, Teichman said.

After the Institute finishes moving, the building it vacates will be torn down sometime this spring. In the building's place, the University will build a new home for Zeta Psi, which will be displaced by the new music center.

Since Zeta Psi currently owns its own property, the fraternity has reportedly requested that property rights be transferred with its new location. Negotiations between the University and Zeta Psi have been ongoing for the past year, but both parties declined to comment.

The question of Zeta Psi's land ownership may be jeopardizing the entire construction timetable, since the only project that can be completed without settling the issue is the demolition of the Institute's building. The University's construction budget includes money set aside to settle with the Zeta Psi organization.

Lingering uncertainty about land ownership has not stopped the University from raising money for the new music building, however. Almost $11 million has been raised, though President Larry Bacow and the Board of Trustees prefer to wait for another $3 million in donations before beginning the project.

Bouchard is confident that the remaining money for the music building will be pledged soon. "There's been real progress this past year and there are a number of good prospects," he said. The building was originally scheduled to be constructed in two phases, but the influx of donations has convinced the administration to complete all the construction at once.

The new music building will replace the current music facilities, including the faculty offices at 20 Professor's Row. The new building will also include classrooms, recital halls, and the music library.

Rehousing the music department's faculty will clear the way for the most expensive of the new construction projects, a new 142-bed dormitory. The facility is currently planned as an L-shaped structure between Talbot Ave. and Professor's Row. It is unclear when construction on the new dorm will begin.

The new dorm was predicted to cost roughly $15 million in a 2001 study conducted by a consulting firm. The trustees have ordered another cost estimate using more exact figures and up-to-date costs.

Finding funding for the dorm is up to the Office of Arts & Sciences and the Office of Development, however. So far only a single grant of $500,000 has been made to cover environmentally-friendly construction, including solar panels on the roof.

"We still are very hopeful a significant amount of the money can be raised externally," Bouchard said. "It's not clear, but there's definitely a lot support for this facility."

If sufficient cash cannot be raised, the University may consider borrowing money to complete the dorm.