The decision on which design will be chosen to rehabilitate the Holmes Student Center tower might be postponed until student input is collected Wednesday.

Three designs will be presented today to the committee which will select an architectural design for the replacement of the exterior wall.

Student Association President Jim Fischer said the committee planned to decide on a design today.

However, Fischer said he would like the committee to postpone its decision until the students are able to have some input.

He said a forum for student input is scheduled for Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. in Diversions in the lower level of the student center. The forum will be run by student members of the committee.

The forum will include displays of the three designs and a question and answer period for students, Fischer said. A ballot box might be set up for students to vote on the design they prefer, he said.

Bond Revenue Operations Director William Herrmann said, “I’m interested in student input, but I hope they have all the facts. What looks nice might not be affordable.”

Donald Beahringer, Board of Regents assistant vice chancellor for administrative affairs, said, “Students on the committee felt it was valid for students to report back to them.”

Herrmann said he believed the committee would look at and discuss the designs today, and “I assumed something would happen.” He said, “Time is becoming crucial.”

Another meeting might have to be arranged before a decision can be made, Herrmann said. Committee Chairman David Stern could not be reached for comment Monday.

The committee will review three presentations which should last about 15 minutes each, Fischer said. A fourth proposal, in which the tower would just be rebricked, will not require a presentation, he said.

After every presentation, the committee is allowing 15 minutes to discuss the proposal and ask questions while the design is fresh in their minds, Fischer said.

The committee will look at the design and elements which are considered essential, Herrmann said. “I’ve seen them (the designs), but I don’t know which one I prefer,” he said.

Beahringer said Wares and Associates in Rockford, Holabaird and Root in Chicago and Kessle Merci in Chicago are in the running to redesign the student center.

SA Sen. Mike Goldstein, a committee member, said, “If there’s an overwhelming negative response toward the design we (students) choose, (the committee) can reconvene and look at the designs a second time.”