Those who pass by the Indiana University Northwest campus as they drive down Broadway near 35th Street simply cannot avoid a glance at the towering façade of the much-anticipated Arts & Sciences building, under construction since 2015.
At three stories tall and 126,300 square feet, the structure dominates the Broadway view, and although it may appear quieter these days, with bundled-up builders no longer hoisting and hammering away, the interior is far from quiet. Inside, dozens of workers are busy every day, adding the finishing touches on the décor, and outfitting the building with the state-of-the-art technology that will make the new space an impressive learning environment.
By the time the fall 2017 semester begins, the faculty and staff will have moved into their offices, and classes will be taking place. Perhaps best of all, there is one feature that has everyone talking, not only the IU Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College campuses, which will share space in the building, but also the entire community.
Those who remember the great loss of Tamarack Hall, home to the campus’s signature theatre, in the flood of 2008, have long awaited its replacement. That day is here, and the community can now officially celebrate the return of a 500-seat, state-of-the-art theatre, as well as a smaller studio, “black box” theatre.
“The return of the theatre will bring the arts front and center to the Gary community, helping to anchor the city’s redevelopment plan for University Park, which aims to focus on investment along Broadway and on 35th Avenue,” said IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe.
IU Northwest is proud to announce the public opening and dedication of the Arts & Sciences building on Friday, Aug. 25.
That evening, special guests and community members will attend the very first performance – a complimentary concert by the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra -- in the new theatre. The show will kick off entertainment brought to the region by not only Theatre Northwest, the performance company of IU Northwest’s Department of Performing Arts, but also other area groups, which will collectively transform the campus’s southeast corner into a destination for the arts.
Art lovers will not be disappointed, as the building offers plenty of space to display the works and hone the talents of fine arts students and faculty, who will display the photography, sculpture, painting and other media that they create in the new studio facilities.
IU Northwest will share space in the Arts & Sciences building with Ivy Tech Community College. Half of the $45 million building will house IU Northwest’s fine and performing arts programs, as well as academic and administration space for the College of Arts and Sciences. Ivy Tech will occupy 30 percent of the building, including science programs and a “one-stop shop” for enrollment and admission services. The remainder of the building will include classrooms and informal study spaces for both campuses.
Lowe added that the central location of the Arts & Sciences building would be instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the faculties and students of IU Northwest and Ivy Tech.
“The presence of Ivy Tech, while also an efficient move for both campuses, will contribute to strengthening the pathway of Ivy Tech students to completing their four-year degrees at IU Northwest,” Lowe said.
About Indiana University Northwest
As one of seven Indiana University campuses, IU Northwest leads the region as the premier, urban campus dedicated to serving the needs of nearly 6,000 students from the state’s most diverse and industrialized region. Committed to helping its local Northwest Indiana communities thrive, IU Northwest is best known for providing a personal, quality and affordable education close to home. IU Northwest positions its students to be leaders with more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional degree options available from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Services, the School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education. The campus is also host to IU School of Medicine-Northwest, which actively involves students in research and local healthcare needs through its four-year medical doctorate program. For more information, please visit www.iun.edu.
