Last modified: Thursday, January 31, 2008
IU chooses architect to prepare master plans for all campuses
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 31, 2008
RICHMOND, Ind. -- David King, a nationally renowned architect with the leading architectural company SmithGroup/JJR of Washington, D.C., has been appointed to serve as Indiana University's new master planner and will oversee preparation of comprehensive master plans for all seven university campuses.
King's appointment was confirmed today (Jan. 31) by the IU Board of Trustees during its regular business meeting at the IU East campus in Richmond.
King, who works out of SmithGroup's Washington, D.C., office, will spend the next 11 months developing master plans for the Bloomington and IUPUI campuses with a goal of presenting them to trustees in December. In 2009, he will begin work on updating master plans for IU's campuses in Gary, Kokomo, New Albany, Richmond and South Bend.
IU President Michael A. McRobbie told trustees the university anticipates a substantial amount of new construction -- as well as the repurposing of existing buildings -- over the next two decades.
"It is essential that we develop a master plan to help us determine what kinds of buildings and facilities we need in addition to those we already have planned and where we should site them," McRobbie said. "This will ensure IU continues to reap the benefits of the kind of insightful long-range planning that goes back to Herman B Wells and which has borne IU such rich rewards."
A recent study determined that IU's campuses will require construction of five million square feet of new research space in Indianapolis and Bloomington over the next two decades to keep up with the university's growing research mission, especially in the life sciences. The university will also be renovating and repurposing many of its existing buildings to accommodate changing academic needs.
"It is our hope this plan will fire the imagination of potential donors, given that a significant amount of the funding for new space will have to be raised privately," McRobbie said. "This is an essential part of conveying an inspiring long-term vision for the future of IU and its service to the state and nation."
King's work will be overseen by J.Terry Clapacs, vice president and chief administrative officer.
Clapacs said the new master plan will address the facilities and infrastructure needs of each campus in a way that takes into account their unique characteristics and needs. The plan will also look at ways to make IU campuses and their structures more environmentally friendly.
Clapacs said King and SmithGroup / JJR were chosen from a field of seven prospective firms because of SmithGroup's extensive experience in designing college and university campuses and buildings as well as its experience at integrating research and medical facilities into master plans.
"We looked very closely at SmithGroup's record, and we were impressed with its expertise across the board in dealing with large, multi-purpose projects," Clapacs said.
The firm has prepared master plans for more than 200 institutions of higher education and has provided design services to all 11 Big Ten institutions.
King has been SmithGroup chairman and director of design since 2001. He earned a bachelor of architecture with high honors from the University of Texas in Austin, and he went on to the Harvard Graduate School of Design for a master's degree in architecture.
King has served as lead designer for many SmithGroup projects, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center, the Northwest World Gateway/McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport, Discovery Communications' World Headquarters and "Visteon Village," the new headquarters for Visteon Corp.
