Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: News

On Monday afternoon construction equipment sits on the site of what will be the University's new Newman Center. Administrators recently adjusted the Center's rebuilding budget from the initial estimate of $2.2 million to $1.6 million

The students and staff at the Newman Center are closer to making their dreams of a rebuilt center a reality - with a little help.

At a recent budget meeting, $600,000 was shaved off the contractors' estimate, keeping the center's budget at the more manageable amount of about $1.6 million, instead of the previous estimate of almost $2.2 million.

Bettie Lesczynski, director of the Newman Center, said only $800,000 of the necessary $1.6 million was provided by the payout from the insurance company.

"The policy was on a set amount," Lesczynski said. "... To build [Newman Center] back as it was."

Lesczynski said that when it came time to draw up the plans for the new Newman Center, students and staff wanted to improve the original building. They decided to increase the chapel size, and the overall square footage grew from 8,000 square feet to 14,000 square feet. She said that after the architectural firm employed by Newman to draw up plans, Killeen Studio Architects, submitted drawings with those specifications, the contractors' bids came back at the $2.2 million mark.

A recent meeting of the building committee - which consists of Kirksville community members, a Truman student, a faculty member and Newman staff - took place in order to reduce the budget to a more manageable amount. Lesczynski said many ornamental parts of the design were taken out. The proposed metal roof was nixed in favor of cheaper shingles.

"The fake beams in the large multi-purpose room were taken out," Lescyznski said. "... No more stained glass windows."

The next challenge facing Newman is raising the about $600,000 left over after the fire insurance payout and received donations estimated between $100,000 and $200,000, Lesczynski said.

Senior Mary Niehaus, vice president of internal affairs at Newman, said the fall mailing campaign undertaken by Newman accounted for much of the money that was donated. She said the Newman Center sent out about 4,000 letters and has received $50,000 in funds.

Continued...

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