Doudna deed not Eastern's yet

By: Nora Maberry/Staff Reporter

Posted: 1/16/08

Eastern still does not own the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The deed to the building under construction along 7th Street is currently held by the Capital Development Board.

The Capital Development Board manages construction projects for the state of Illinois and oversees design and construction on elementary, high school and university facilities as well as museum and historic sites.

The deed will be officially transferred to Eastern upon substantial completion of Doudna, said Jeff Cooley, Eastern's vice president for business affairs.

Substantial completion is expected sometime this spring or summer, he said.

Substantial completion means that a majority of the construction work is complete, and only minor "touch-ups" such as replacing light switches or touching up paint remains, Cooley said.

The total cost for completing Doudna, including furniture, fixtures and equipment, is estimated to be $63 million, Cooley said.

Construction costs had been estimated at $45 million.

Last March, Gov. Rod Blagojevich recommended that Eastern receive $1.5 million to equip the Doudna Fine Arts Center in his fiscal year 2008 budget.

This money will be spent making sure students have the proper equipment when they finally move into the building next fall.

In Fall 2008, students will be allowed back in the building that has been under construction since 2004. The blueprints for the building have not changed since construction started, said campus architect Rex Hilligross.

The building will feature a copper roof and copper interior accents, along with colored glass in the main concourse, Hilligross said.

The winter weather has slowed construction on the building.

"Extreme cold and/or windy conditions have slowed the copper roofing," Hilligross said. "Freezing temperatures have temporarily stopped site work, like walks and road repairs."

Despite the winter weather, the building is scheduled to open on time.

During an address at a faculty luncheon held in Aug. 2006, former President Lou Hencken touched on the completion of the Doudna Fine Arts Building, which at the time was scheduled for Spring 2007. He said at the time, a major goal of the upcoming year was making sure the Fine Arts building was completed.

Eastern President Bill Perry said he expects the building to open on time next semester.

"I do not expect a delay," he said.

Perry said that once the building does open, it will not only provide opportunities for the Charleston community, but as a recruitment tool for future students.

"It's a signature building that signals a strong commitment to the arts," Perry said. "By being a state-of-the-art facility, Doudna will enhance our recruitment and retention of students and faculty."

Nora Maberry can be reached at 581-7942 or nemaberry@eiu.edu.