Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1938 [PAGE 665]

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

663

differences in the provisions in the two agreements for the construction of the building: 1. The revised draft proposes that the building shall be constructed by the Department of Registration and Education and permits the University to approve only the "architectural style," the entire responsibility for the preparation of plans and specifications, award of contracts, and the supervision of construction to be in the State Architect. 2. No reference is made in the revised draft to the extension of service lines which is a major item in the cost of construction of the building. This is contrary to the appropriation act which recognizes the extension of service lines as part of the cost of construction. 3. Heretofore the University has uniformly controlled the design and construction of buildings on its own property. 4. It nullifies the authority of the University to make rules and regulations concerning the use of the building. 5. It would require the University to extend Stadium Drive through the University and to remove the Animal Pathology Laboratory earlier than would normally be undertaken. If an agreement cannot be reached by the Department of Registration and Education and the Board of Trustees under which the Natural Resources Building will be designed and constructed by the University, the Director of the Physical Plant Department recommends that: 1. The Board of Trustees deed a site for this building, this to be the site originally requested by the Chiefs of the State Geological and Natural History Surveys at the corner of Lincoln and Pennsylvania Avenues, immediately south of the Forestry, and authorized by the Board (October 25, 1935, Minutes, page 477), the restrictions on this area to be the same as specified in the offer of the Board. 2. Since this will be a State building and not a building of the University, the Surveys or the Department of Registration and Education be given the responsibility of operating and maintaining it. The extension of service lines to this site would not be advisable in view of the cost involved and the limited facilities of the University's power plant.

On motion of Mr. Adams, the matter was referred to the Committee on General Policy and the President of the University, to meet with Director Hallihan, the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Chiefs of the Geological and Natural History Surveys, and the Governor, to arrive at a satisfactory agreement for the construction of this building.

PURCHASE OF BROWNFIELD WOODS

(26) The Faculty Committee on Natural Areas and Uncultivated Lands, which represents the Biological Departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Agriculture, and the State Natural History Survey, has recommended from time to time that the University purchase the Brownfield Woods northeast of Urbana as an extension of the University's forestry holdings for scientific purposes. The University now owns a forestry tract of about forty acres in the same vicinity. It has also leased the Brownfield Woods during the last few years. The Brownfield Woods is an area of 60 acres and has been offered to the University at a price of approximately $1,100 an acre, so that the total cost of this area as represented by the present offer would be approximately $66,000. This matter is being reported for the information of the Board but without recommendation. It is still under consideration as to (1) the value to the scientific and educational interests of the University of acquiring additional forestry areas; (2) a fair valuation of the property; (3) the relative importance of such a capital expenditure in view of other University needs; and (4) the availability of funds.

This report was received for record.