Birger Hall makes its big debut |
Mike Terry |
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B. Barnard Birger Hall, the first building on the SIUE campus fully funded with private donations, was dedicated at 4 p.m. Wednesday in front of members of the foundation board and other supporters of the project. The 12,000-square-foot-building cost around $2 million to complete. Of that, $1.3 million was donated in January 1999 by B. Barnard Birger, the foundation board member for whom the building is named. Birger donated his house in Collinsville, as well as the surrounding 12 acres to be put toward the building's funding. Birger, who was also a member of the board of trustees, died in March before he was able to see the completion of the building. Birger Hall features a meeting room that will have special events and board meetings, a visitors' center, banquet facilities, and a deck and patio overlooking Cougar Lake. The second floor, which will not be completed until sufficient donations are collected, will house a reference library and a conference room. Offices for the SIUE Foundation and Alumni Association moved into the new building from the Tosovsky Center last week. SIU President James E. Walker and Chancellor David Werner spoke at the dedication. Earlier in the day, they spoke to reporters and answered several questions about other campus issues such as the improvements to the Science Building and Lovejoy Library, minority enrollment and campus growth. According to Werner, SIUE's current goal is to have 13,500 students enrolled by 2005, but those numbers might need to be updated to address student problems such as parking and class selection. "We have to make sure we are not growing one part of the campus faster than another," Werner said. "We need to keep the university moving forward and let the faculty and staff feel appreciated," Walker said. Walker and Werner also plan to be at the official dedication open to the entire campus at 3 p.m. Friday. . | |