University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin announced for the first time Thursday that plans for an 82,000-square-foot business building are definitely proceeding.
Hardin told the Conway Noon Rotary Club that he and other UCA administrators were waiting to find out if the university would be one of the sites selected for a national debate because of the promised 320-space parking lot for media. Because the institution was not selected, Hardin said full focus has been put on this construction.
"So today I am making public the plans for an 82,000-square-foot, $18-million, state-of-the-art, College of Business building that will be constructed directly behind Wingo Hall," Hardin said. "And one of the things we will be most proud of is that we will have several huge lecture halls that will accommodate 200 students throughout the building, so we can have guest lecturers at any time."
Hardin said art will be a key component and feel of the building and innumerable conference spaces will be included for students to be able to work in small groups.
"This 82,000 square feet will take care of us for many years in terms of classroom space," Hardin said.
The funds for this building will primarily come from the higher education bond issue that passed by 70 percent in the November 2006 election. Hardin said UCA received $13 million of the $150 million bond issue and the rest of the funds for the building will be bonded institutionally.
"This is absolutely and unequivocally necessary for the future of the University of Central Arkansas," Hardin said. "And 30 years from now this business building will stand as a true monument to higher education."
Construction will begin in April, according to Hardin, and could possibly be complete by the fall of 2009. Hardin added this particular construction will be done a little differently.
"I asked if we could build it as we go," Hardin said. "So when it's time to have the foundation done, as that work is being done, the architect will be working on plans for the building's second floor."
Hardin also pointed out the tremendous impact a construction project of this magnitude will have on Conway's economy.
"I'm very excited about what this project means to Conway and UCA and where we will go from here, not state-wide, but nationally," Hardin said.
(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
