Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 426]

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1945]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

423

T h e capacity of the two houses is 75 students, based on the standards of the University's Division of Student Housing. On the basis of post-war prices this capacity of 75 could be provided for as a part of a new residence hall project at a unit cost (per student) of $2,800, or a total of $210,000. W e have been informed that the Illinois Budgetary Commission will recommend an appropriation to the University of Illinois for the purchase of these two properties. If such funds become available and the Board of Trustees decides to purchase the houses, it should do so on the basis of appraisals to determine their actual value. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the cost of rehabilitating and furnishing the properties, and connecting them with the University utilities.

On motion of Mr. Davis, this matter was referred to the Committee on Buildings and Grounds for consideration and recommendation to the Board.

BUILDING PROGRAM F O R T H E NEXT BIENNIUM (2) At the meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 24, 1945, I reported on the recommendations of the Illinois P o s t - W a r Planning Commission for the University of Illinois Public W o r k s Program for the first biennium. T h e Commission's recommendations differ from those of the Board of Trustees by the addition of the Betatron, $1,700,000, and the Health and Physical Education Building, $2,300,000, and the elimination of the following essential buildings: Chemistry Laboratories $1 100 000 Animal Husbandry Laboratories 435 000 Mechanical Engineering Laboratories 1 233 000 Dairy Husbandry Laboratories 275 000 The Betatron was originally included in the University's regular budget for 1945-1947 at $1,300,000. At the request of the Illinois Budgetary Commission the Board of Trustees of the University agreed to transfer the Betatron to the post-war building budget with the understanding that funds for projects scheduled for the first post-war biennium would be made available beginning July 1, 1945. In all its conferences with representatives of the Commission, representatives of the University's Building P r o g r a m Committee emphasized the importance of a unified program which takes into account the many factors involved in the entire program of the University. In the case of the four buildings eliminated, each project submitted affected not only the activity to be provided for directly but made possible relief for congested conditions in other departments. By careful planning, the relatively small number of projects included in the program for the first post-war biennium would provide relief for a large number of departments. T h e elimination of the four buildings completely blocks the proper educational development of many departments which were to move into vacated and remodeled buildings if these educational buildings had not been eliminated. The report of the Illinois P o s t - W a r Planning Commission is now in the hands of the Illinois Budgetary Commission. T h e Budgetary Commission was informed of the action of the Board of Trustees taken February 24, 1945 (Minutes, page 361), and was requested to consider the following adjustments in the University's building program: 1. Restoration of four buildings eliminated by Post-War Planning Commission $3 043 OOO 2. Offsetting adjustments: Elimination of Health and Physical Education Building 2 300 000 Duplication of funds for Betatron and Physics Research Building 400 000 Reduction of funds: Power Plant 200 000 Mechanical Engineering Building 73 000 Chemical Engineering Building 70 000 Total $3 043 000