PJ Star story on BU Fundraising

[Stardust6702]

Sorry to disappoint but I've heard multiple rumors that the next project is the business/engineering building. It's a good thing that this is the next project since I spent the majority of my time at the foster college and I always thought they could use better computer labs and lecture halls.

[ManMythLegend]

I sure hope so, those are all far more neccessary than a dome. BU has athletic facilities that far outclass comparable schools already. BU's Bread and Butter, engineering and business majors, are using facilities that were out of date 20 years ago let alone now. Jobst is literally 7 different buildings stuck together. Baker is two buildings stuck together. Bradley needs to invest in the students who will be investing back into Bradley, and by-in-large, those tend to be Engineering and Business grads (not saying that's all, but it is very much the majority). Also, tons of studies show that dorms are on of the top priorities for incoming students and Bradley's Dorms are incredibly out-dated. IMO BU needs to start focusing the spending on students, they've spent enough for Alums.

BU has spent millions of dollars on the dorm situation in the past 5-6 years, including: Renovation of Harper/Wyckoff (that may have been slightly more than 6 years ago), renovation of all restrooms in U-hall and Williams, renovation and addition to the Williams cafeteria, a brand new addition and renovation to the Geisert cafeteria, Phase I of II of the Heitz Hall project is complete with Phase II being completed over winter break, spring break, and next summer. Also planned for next summer and likely coming out for bidding shortly is the renovation of every restroom in Geisert. I doubt we see any new dorms constructed for BU anywhere in the near future. One problem is land and the other is cost-benefit. The only way we see a new dorm is if we see a huge increase in attendance. If you don't believe me, look at the amount of money they just dumped into Heitz to modernize the building. That was a building that really could have been demolished and rebuilt, yet they decided to gut and renovate. Although I will say that the structure of that building is impressive and it has withstood the test of time. All it needed was some updating . Also, the student center is not THAT old, but I agree it would be nice to have it renovated or added on to as it just doesn't have a ton of usable space as-is.

As far as the Business/Engineering Convergence Center project is concerned, I completely agree with you. As a graduate from the engineering department, I can tell you first hand that it is ridiculous how out of date the building(s) are. Although I understand that the design for that project is underway, it couldn't come soon enough!

[buschsquirrel2011]

As far as the Business/Engineering Convergence Center project is concerned, I completely agree with you. As a graduate from the engineering department, I can tell you first hand that it is ridiculous how out of date the building(s) are. Although I understand that the design for that project is underway, it couldn't come soon enough!

Trying to "win" in the facilities race is an impossible task. I went to Bradley in the late 90's and at the time Baker Hall was "state of the art"...now it's behind-the-times? Yikes.

Facilities are like cell phones now. You have a new one and its obsolete before you know it. Any university/athletic department worth its salt doesn't put its eggs in the "facilities" basket---that doesn't get it done.

[Bradleyguy10]

Go Engineering!

Anyway, I was just walking through Heitz hall during parents/homecoming weekend and the dorm looked absolutely terrible. The first floor looked acceptable but man it looked pitiful compared to my freshmen year. I have to admit though I didn't get a good look inside one of the "new" types of rooms..but the hallways were disgraceful and looked like a construction zone with exposed pipes and holes in all the walls...

On another note the new apartments by Jimmy John's are getting some negative press via word of mouth around campus....

[amckillip]

BU has spent millions of dollars on the dorm situation in the past 5-6 years, including: Renovation of Harper/Wyckoff (that may have been slightly more than 6 years ago), renovation of all restrooms in U-hall and Williams, renovation and addition to the Williams cafeteria, a brand new addition and renovation to the Geisert cafeteria, Phase I of II of the Heitz Hall project is complete with Phase II being completed over winter break, spring break, and next summer. Also planned for next summer and likely coming out for bidding shortly is the renovation of every restroom in Geisert. I doubt we see any new dorms constructed for BU anywhere in the near future. One problem is land and the other is cost-benefit. The only way we see a new dorm is if we see a huge increase in attendance. If you don't believe me, look at the amount of money they just dumped into Heitz to modernize the building. That was a building that really could have been demolished and rebuilt, yet they decided to gut and renovate. Although I will say that the structure of that building is impressive and it has withstood the test of time. All it needed was some updating . Also, the student center is not THAT old, but I agree it would be nice to have it renovated or added on to as it just doesn't have a ton of usable space as-is.

As far as the Business/Engineering Convergence Center project is concerned, I completely agree with you. As a graduate from the engineering department, I can tell you first hand that it is ridiculous how out of date the building(s) are. Although I understand that the design for that project is underway, it couldn't come soon enough!

If you BU has spent millions on the dorms recently, it has not been spent wisely. Harper and Wyckoff have not been significantly altered for a decade and even when they were completed were still out of date. I know all the projects that have happened/are planned and I can assure they are very inadequate in both speed and scope. Heitz is nice but it is by far the smallest (traditional) dorm on BU's campus and even after the update will not wow students. The Williams Hall and University Hall 'Updates' already look incredibly dated and were more like putting lipstick on a pig. Just look at the study rooms and cafeteria in Williams, or the bathrooms in UHall. Bradley's Dorms and Student Center just simply are GROSSLY below average, particularly for a private school that is a commanding a premium over any state schools.

[amckillip]

On another note the new apartments by Jimmy John's are getting some negative press via word of mouth around campus....

Agreed. There is actually talk of class-action lawsuit (though I am by no means knowledgeable of the details on that). Many of the promised amentities are not available and the quality is allegedly far below what was promised and is actually below the quality of St. James, let alone worthy of the HEFTY premium those students are paying in the new building.

[ManMythLegend]

Go Engineering!

Anyway, I was just walking through Heitz hall during parents/homecoming weekend and the dorm looked absolutely terrible. The first floor looked acceptable but man it looked pitiful compared to my freshmen year. I have to admit though I didn't get a good look inside one of the "new" types of rooms..but the hallways were disgraceful and looked like a construction zone with exposed pipes and holes in all the walls...

On another note the new apartments by Jimmy John's are getting some negative press via word of mouth around campus....

Heitz Hall is in fact still under construction and it's unfortunate that the students have to live in it between construction phases. The reality is, BU had to have kids in there and thus they will have to live within an unfinished construction project. If you are around next homecoming, take a look see at the finished product. I lived there as a freshmen and I can guarantee it is going to be a huge improvement over what it was. That being said, it is still a dorm and all it does is provide shelter/study/sleeping space for students .

[it's boogie time]

None of it can be worse than living in Becker Hall

[ManMythLegend]

If you BU has spent millions on the dorms recently, it has not been spent wisely. Harper and Wyckoff have not been significantly altered for a decade and even when they were completed were still out of date. I know all the projects that have happened/are planned and I can assure they are very inadequate in both speed and scope. Heitz is nice but it is by far the smallest (traditional) dorm on BU's campus and even after the update will not wow students. The Williams Hall and University Hall 'Updates' already look incredibly dated and were more like putting lipstick on a pig. Just look at the study rooms and cafeteria in Williams, or the bathrooms in UHall. Bradley's Dorms and Student Center just simply are GROSSLY below average, particularly for a private school that is a commanding a premium over any state schools.

I can agree that many of the "upgrade projects" (Harper/Wyckoff, Williams, U-Hall) were basically to "dress-up" the facilities and provide much needed core renovations (bathroom renovations). Heitz has been by far the largest scope of any of the dorm projects and where you'll see the most amount of change. I agree that none of these dorms or projects will WOW students. But the other projects, where the money was obviously well spent, will WOW the students (Westlake, Renaissance, Student Rec Center, Alumni Center, and even the 5 year old Bradley Hall Renovation). I'm not too far out of school, but in the time I've been out, I've realized that money is better spent on educational and athletic facilities than it is on dorm rooms. Dorm rooms serve their purpose, to provide shelter in its most basic form. I think the money that BU has spent on upgrades and additions in the past 10 years has been very wisely utilized. Obviously many alumni agree or at least trust BU to see to it that their money is spent accordingly. If you're not happy with the changes going on in the BU facilities right now, well maybe you're just too hard to please . I think that the Convergence Center will be the icing on the cake.

[amckillip]

Obviously many alumni agree or at least trust BU to see to it that their money is spent accordingly...

See, this is the problem with many alums, Short-term, Alum are who you want to please, but at the end of the day college, especially a non-research institution like BU, is about the students. And despite lowering the admission standards a couple years ago BU is still struggling to bring in adequate freshman classes (this year was INCREDIBLY low). And I can assure you no student is choosing BU because of an alumni hall, or even an arena for the athletes. Listen to the biggest complaints of potential freshman and it's the dorms, and the most competitive majors to get students right now? Engineering. The worst two buildings on campus? Jobst and Morgan Halls. There is a disconnect, and to a lot of people it's becoming painstakingly obvious.

Oh, and I am very hard to please.

[ManMythLegend]

... the most competitive majors to get students right now? Engineering. The worst two buildings on campus? Jobst and Morgan Halls. There is a disconnect, and to a lot of people it's becoming painstakingly obvious.

Oh, and I am very hard to please.

Agreed on this point. And I was that Freshman complaining about having to live in a crappy dorm (Heitz) and now when I look back at it, I wouldn't change it for anything. I do agree that we need to do something to keep or attract MORE incoming freshman. If dorms are what they want, maybe we should write a letter

[RedSeaElite1]

I think you are underestimating the Heitz renovation, the new rooms are by far the biggest on campus and provide the ability to customize your room to fit your needs. Also there is talk around campus that Bradley owns the majority of the houses and land on cooper ave and that the expansion of campus will be in that direction with the attempt to make the alumni quad the new main quad. Also from what i hear the only reason the engineering business convergence center was not part of the campaign for renaissance was because it ended up totaling near a $150 million building and the entire campaign only raised 160 mil. Also just today i was sent a survey about bradley housing and what needed to be fixed/changed for the future and how bradley could better serve the housing needs for the student. It was very in depth and i liked a lot of the ideas it included.

[amckillip]

I think you are underestimating the Heitz renovation, the new rooms are by far the biggest on campus and provide the ability to customize your room to fit your needs. Also there is talk around campus that Bradley owns the majority of the houses and land on cooper ave and that the expansion of campus will be in that direction with the attempt to make the alumni quad the new main quad. Also from what i hear the only reason the engineering business convergence center was not part of the campaign for renaissance was because it ended up totaling near a $150 million building and the entire campaign only raised 160 mil. Also just today i was sent a survey about bradley housing and what needed to be fixed/changed for the future and how bradley could better serve the housing needs for the student. It was very in depth and i liked a lot of the ideas it included.

I have seen the Heitz Renovations several times, they are still below standard save for the room keys (though many universities have this). Having pipes running all over in and out of rooms, bad windows, etc. is not up to the standard of other universities. Also, the housing survey is something that has been sent out several times.

The talk of expanding towards cooper has always been going around and always finds tons of opposition from the local community. Also, what buildings would they build? All academic buildings are accounted for. Apartments are the only things in the plan for building in that direction as of now...

[ManMythLegend]

I have seen the Heitz Renovations several times, they are still below standard save for the room keys (though many universities have this). Having pipes running all over in and out of rooms, bad windows, etc. is not up to the standard of other universities...

Heitz is still under construction and unfinished. The piping that is exposed won't be when finished and every window is going to be replaced in the next phase (all of this is already under contract, but can't be done when students are living there). The new bathrooms are pretty darn nice and I think once finished you'll agree that the dorm as a whole is on par with similar universities. Will it be a grand luxurious dorm? No, but why would it be? Will it please incoming freshmen? Yes, I'd be willing to bet on it.