There are a ton of new things going on at NIU...IMO its mostly because of President Baker...but I didn't want to make a ton of different threads since its not sports related.

Zip car coming to NIU
http://www.niutoday.info/2014/02/18/rev-...ut-at-niu/

NIU Master Plan Thesis
http://northernstar.info/campus/article_...b2370.html
Lost of interesting things to look at on this concept map...Most interesting is Lincoln is still standing and what could be Greek Row moving to across the street from Neptune North.


Also I read that Normal Road (road running from the student center to the parking garage) will be closed to non-authorized vehicles this spring as a test to see if helps the flow for walking and biking on campus.

Closing Normal would be a big positive. That's long overdue. Bad for traffic flow but a big plus to making the center of campus more pedestrian friendly and cohesive.

Not a fan of closing Normal, I drive down it every day

I've said this before but I'll repeat myself on the chance that someone from the university actually reads our nonsense. All of this that follows costs money of course, just dreaming here.

1. Erect a new athletics building somewhere west of Annie Glidden that accommodates everything that is currently done in Chick Evans plus gymnastics, wrestling and whatever else is done in the Huskie Stadium west grandstand.

2. This creates an awesome new building while freeing up Huskie Stadium for renovation/demolition.

3. Nuke Chick Evans and its parking lot.

4. Put a new building in place of Chick Evans: new performing arts center, classroom building, whatever.

5. Extend the quad from MLK Commons all the way to Annie Glidden.

I know the next campus capital project is a new Computer Science building...and it will also likely include a Health/Engineering department. This is expected to be around 60mil.

I just looked at that rendering again and it looks like they've drawn what I suggested re: replacing Chick Evans and expanding the quad westward.

(02-19-2014 12:02 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I just looked at that rendering again and it looks like they've drawn what I suggested re: replacing Chick Evans and expanding the quad westward.

+1. Not only would it make the campus more inviting for students to walk through and study/hangout in between classes, it would provide a much needed upgrade physically looking from Annie Glidden. Chick Evans looks like something you would see in a public works area and doesn't give the greatest impression for first timers on campus.

Is there a link to the full rendering? This is just a little chunk.

(02-18-2014 08:43 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I've said this before but I'll repeat myself on the chance that someone from the university actually reads our nonsense. All of this that follows costs money of course, just dreaming here.

1. Erect a new athletics building somewhere west of Annie Glidden that accommodates everything that is currently done in Chick Evans plus gymnastics, wrestling and whatever else is done in the Huskie Stadium west grandstand.

2. This creates an awesome new building while freeing up Huskie Stadium for renovation/demolition.

3. Nuke Chick Evans and its parking lot.

4. Put a new building in place of Chick Evans: new performing arts center, classroom building, whatever.

5. Extend the quad from MLK Commons all the way to Annie Glidden.

Chick Evans and the parking lot have to go. This is an eyesore right in the middle of campus. I heard Baker wants to develop a Quad. If there is money, a stste of the art student rec center would be nice. Several years ago I was at out game at Ohio U and we visited their student rec center. It is beautiful. I talked to a school adm and he said their research indicated that sudent rec facilities is one of the top 3 desires of prospective students. I thinkl Baker is on a mission to make it an envoirnment to keep students on campus

I'm in the minority. I hope Evans stays. Too may great memories in that building from when we had a basketball program.

(02-19-2014 08:43 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I'm in the minority. I hope Evans stays. Too may great memories in that building from when we had a basketball program.

what for? no students in the last 15 yrs have one memory. Thats the middle of campus and could become the focal point. If you want to remember it, take a picture

(02-19-2014 09:14 AM)GCD70 Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 08:43 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I'm in the minority. I hope Evans stays. Too may great memories in that building from when we had a basketball program.

what for? no students in the last 15 yrs have one memory. Thats the middle of campus and could become the focal point. If you want to remember it, take a picture

Ouch babe. lol

If they can replace Yankee Stadium they can replace the field house. The only basketball being played in there was crappy pickup games and quidditch practice.

(02-19-2014 09:39 AM)NorthernBear Wrote:  If they can replace Yankee Stadium they can replace the field house. The only basketball being played in there was crappy pickup games and quidditch practice.

Don't forget about indoor soccer and floor hockey!

It's an eyesore that should be demolished.


Sent from my iPhone.

(02-19-2014 09:52 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 09:39 AM)NorthernBear Wrote:  If they can replace Yankee Stadium they can replace the field house. The only basketball being played in there was crappy pickup games and quidditch practice.

Don't forget about indoor soccer and floor hockey!

think what that area would look like in a classic Quad design

(02-19-2014 10:46 AM)GCD70 Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 09:52 AM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 09:39 AM)NorthernBear Wrote:  If they can replace Yankee Stadium they can replace the field house. The only basketball being played in there was crappy pickup games and quidditch practice.

Don't forget about indoor soccer and floor hockey!

think what that area would look like in a classic Quad design

Awesome. Who pays for it?

NIU is by far the ugliest & worst designed college campus I've ever seen. But at least we're good at football!

(02-19-2014 11:38 AM)HuskieRak Wrote:  NIU is by far the ugliest & worst designed college campus I've ever seen. But at least we're good at football!

Have you been to UIC lately?

(02-19-2014 11:43 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-19-2014 11:38 AM)HuskieRak Wrote:  NIU is by far the ugliest & worst designed college campus I've ever seen. But at least we're good at football!

Have you been to UIC lately?

Nope. Not a place I usually go to.