The cost of redecorating the Holmes Student Center Skyroom will fall in the range of $36,000 to $38,000 and will be completed in time for the March Board of Regents meeting to be held at NIU.

Student center Director Judd Baker said he expects the total project expenditures to be at least $2,000 less than the $40,000 approved budget.

The project includes the installation of $18,000 draperies which will be used to cover the 10 large, panoramic Skyroom windows, Baker said.

“The old drapes were sun-bleached and shredding when we took them down. Putting in new drapes is a very important part of the project,” Baker said.

Other costs include new carpeting, paint, wallpaper, two oak wooden doors and new electrical wiring.

NIU Project Manager Conrad Miller said the construction is on schedule.

“We wanted something that would appeal to the eye,” Miller said. “It’s a very unique room with a spectacular view. Not very many student centers have a tower of this height with a skyroom available for meetings.”

Baker added that the Skyroom is “a multi-purpose room … very nice for meetings, receptions, seminars or forums.”

At least four or five events are held in the Skyroom each week. The center charges $180 to non-university groups and $80 to university-recognized groups for use of the room, Baker said.

“This remodeling is the last part of the tower reconstruction to me. We’ve already fixed the hotel and office rooms which were damaged by water leakage from the old tower and once this is done, I will feel that the tower reconstruction is finally complete,” Baker said.