Purdue advancing $150M in building projects

Purdue University officials are moving ahead with plans for spending about $150 million to renovate several engineering buildings and construct a new classroom and library building in West Lafayette.

The Purdue trustees' facilities committee on Thursday endorsed the projects. If approved by the full board, work could begin next year and last into 2018.

Plans call for $70 million in renovations for existing engineering buildings as Purdue looks to add 700 students to its engineering programs in the coming years. Nearly $80 million would be spent on the Active Learning Center, which would include classrooms designed for greater use of technology and space to consolidate six science libraries.

Facilities committee chairman Gary Lehman told the Journal & Courier that the building will help meet the changing needs of students and professors.