The Indiana University Board of Trustees approved two architectural designs during its March 1 meeting at IU Southeast. Both projects will be completed at IU Bloomington facilities.
Changes planned for the exterior of the School of Public Health building will improve accessibility by providing a new, unified entrance on the east side and renovating existing entrances at the west and south.
To meet accessibility requirements, wider doors will also be placed at the west entrance to the building. The interior lobby level will be accessible from the existing plaza using a new ramp. Existing limestone stairs will be moved to the west to accommodate the ramp.
On the south entrance, two sets of existing fire doors will be replaced with entryway doors to meet accessibility requirements, requiring the relocation of nearby mechanical and electrical distribution systems. The number of designated accessible parking spaces next to the south entrance will be expanded to a total of six.
Trustees also approved the installation of a screen wall on the east and west roofs of the Jacobs School of Music’s Music Addition.
The 7-foot screen wall will conceal views of two large air handling units that will be installed on the building’s rooftop during renovations. The wall will be consistent with the round architecture of the building and consist of metal with a soft limestone tone and perforation pattern that mimics the design of the existing center penthouse structure.
Both projects are part of the expansive Wells Quad and School of Public Health facilities renovation project that was approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2023. They will be funded by the state of Indiana through capital appropriations included in the 2023-25 biannual budget bill.
Construction for each project is expected to begin this year.
