Purdue planning $89M classroom, library project

Purdue University officials are working on plans for an $89 million project to build a new classroom and library building that would take the place of an old power plant on the West Lafayette campus.

School officials say the new building would replace outdated classroom space in three buildings and consolidate the engineering and science libraries.

Purdue planning director Ken Sandel told a Board of Trustees committee Thursday that the campus' classrooms are an average of 65 years old and not designed for current teaching methods.

The Journal & Courier reported Purdue will seek funding for the project from the state Legislature next year. About $17 million go toward tearing down the old power plant along Purdue's Memorial Mall and removing asbestos and its four coal boilers.

___