Collins Center will close next school year for a $23 million renovation to fulfill IU’s Bicentennial Strategic Plan.
The renovation will include central heat and air, a card-reader security system, handicap-accessible restrooms and elevators, hard-surface flooring and repairs to the electrical system and roofs, said IU spokesperson Chuck Carney.
While Collins is renovated, the living-learning center will be moved to Foster Quad, which will be newly renovated by that time, Collins director Padraic Kenney said. The Hillcrest Apartments and Collins’ arts facilities will still operate.
Carney said the Collins renovation was scheduled for the 2021-2022 school year but was moved up when the McNutt and Foster quadrangles renovations were also moved up to this year.
“It’s a beautiful, old building that needs some renovations,” Carney said.
IU sophomore Aaron Sizemore is living in Collins for his second year and is the Collins Student Government historian. The building opened in 1924, and Sizemore said it was the first living-learning center in Indiana.
“We’re really old, and a lot of cool things have happened here,” he said.
Sizemore said some notable IU alumni lived in Collins, such as Laverne Cox, "Orange Is the New Black" actress, and Meg Cabot, author of "The Princess Diaries" series. Once known as the Men’s Residence Center, Collins has also been the home to military trainees and winners of the first three men’s Little 500 races.
He said he has mixed emotions when it comes to Collins closing.
“I’m sad to not have access to it for a year, but at the same time I’m excited for the changes we’re going to get,” Sizemore said.
Kenney said Foster will be an ideal temporary location for the LLC because there are classrooms, lounges and office spaces.
“Collins will be in pretty nice digs for a year while the renovation goes on,” Kenney said. “And then we’ll be returning in full force in fall 2021 back to the renovated Collins.”
IU sophomore Jennie Moran chose to live in Collins again this year mainly because of the friends she made last year. She said she doesn’t plan on living in Collins next year because she thinks it will be easier to figure out off-campus living.
“I’m going to miss having people around that I can always hang out with,” Moran said.
Sizemore said students have a lot of input at Collins, even with this renovation. He said students have met with Kenney and architects.
Kenney said the next town hall for students to learn about the renovation and voice their concerns will be 8 p.m. next Sunday in the Edmondson Hall classroom.
