The Illinois Board of Higher Education unanimously approved more than $2 million Wednesday to enable NIU to proceed with seven non-instructional improvement projects, including one that will alleviate NIU’s lack of parking space.

The IBHE approved the projects at Wednesday’s IBHE meeting at Western Illinois University in Macomb.

The parking lot construction project provides for the development of land bordering on Lincoln Terrace and Normal Road. The work will include the construction of a gravel surface parking lot with about 70 to 100 parking spaces.

The parking lot project also includes the remodeling of two houses on the northeast and southeast corner of the property for office space. The cost of the project is estimated at $200,000.

A parking lot resurfacing project will provide for the resurfacing of parking lot 20 near the Chick Evans Field House and parking lot 3 near the Music Building. These areas provide 547 parking spaces and will cost about $295,000.

Another project provides for installation of energy monitoring and control systems in Lincoln and Douglas residence halls and the Student Recreation Center.

This project has an estimated payback period of approximately four years, the Board said, and will cost about $385,000.

The exterior lighting fixtures in Lincoln and Douglas halls also will be replaced. The IBHE said the project will have a payback period of nearly two years and will cost about $250,000.

A Huskie Stadium remodeling project will replace the 25-year-old wooden benches for seating and cost about $525,000. The project also includes replacement of the stadiums’ sound and light systems.

A roof replacement project provides for new roofing materials and insulation on the C and D towers of Grant Towers North residence hall. The area involved is 20,700 square feet and will cost about $185,000.

A smoke detector project provides for installation of smoke alarms in residence hall rooms and hallways at Stevenson Towers South. The cost of the project is about $375,000.

Ross Hodel, IBHE deputy director, said the bond revenue reserve is the source of funds for all seven projects.

The monies in the reserve are leftover funds from bonds that were purchased for other projects, Hodel said.

ichard Wagner, IBHE executive director, said five remodeling projects were approved for Illinois State University, one of the two other Board of Regents schools.