A bidding problem stalled the Arndt House remodeling project earlier this summer, but work is underway and the project’s schedule is still on track, said NIU’s vice president for finance and planning.

Eddie Williams said when bids were originally requested for the project, the general contracting job received no bids. Only bids for subcontracting tasks such as electricity, plumbing and heating were received.

But, NIU sought bids again and eventually awarded the contract to Jacky Builders of Sycamore.

Almost no work time was lost, Williams said.

NIU will not use any of its own workers on the Arndt project because they are all too busy on other campus projects which must be completed by the summer’s end, Williams said.

“Everybody’s got work to do (this summer). That’s why it’s so hard to get projects through at this time,” he said.

Work to be done on the building this summer includes painting both the inside and outside, roofing, window replacement, floor repairs and replastering of damaged walls.

The first two floors of the three-floor structure will be used mostly for office space and meeting rooms for graduate assistants, counselors and various faculty members. The fate of the third floor, now an attic area, has not been decided.

The remodeling project was budgeted at $155,000 and a 10 percent contingency budget. All work should be completed by the end of September, Williams said.

Next semester, the new and improved Arndt house will be the home of the University Resources Center for Women and the NIU Center for Women’s Studies, formerly located in the now demolished Wirtz House.

The Arndt House also will house the Faculty Council seminar room and the University Press.