Construction on Indiana University East’s Student Events and Activities Center will begin today (June 3).

The center is IU East’s fifth building on campus. The facility will promote student success through a comprehensive offering of programming in health and wellness, physical education, athletics, student activities and special events. Since 2007, student enrollment at IU East has over doubled to 4,573 in 2014.

“We are very excited to see construction begin. This building is symbolic of our campus’ continued growth and it will create many new engagement opportunities for our students and community. We are grateful to the many alumni, community members, faculty and staff who contributed to make this project possible,” said IU East Chancellor Kathy Cruz-Uribe.

The university began raising funds for the project through its public campaign, “Bold Aspirations: The Campaign for the Student Events Center,” in October 2012. Through community and campus support and generosity, the campaign raised the remaining $1.7 million for the project. IU East had already reserved $3 million for the project from savings and efficiencies.

With the start of construction, IU East is closing the Springwood Hall parking lot in order to deliver and stage equipment and materials for the center.

Visitors to campus may park in the guest spaces in the Springwood Hall circle drive. Handicap parking is also available in the circle drive. Additional parking is available in the Whitewater Hall, Hayes Hall and Tom Raper Hall parking lots as well as the northeast section of the Ivy Tech Community College parking lot, located next to the tennis courts.
Signs will be posted to clearly mark areas for pedestrians and to direct vehicle traffic.

The Student Events and Activities Center is expected to be completed by fall 2016. RL Turner of Indianapolis received the bid to construct the center. The center is designed by MSKTD & Associates, Inc.