Space problems with six NIU organizations’ offices might be resolved if the NIU Foundation Board of Directors approves plans and cost estimates to move those offices to the Palmer Building in DeKalb.

The organizations which might move into the Palmer Building, 801 N. First St., include NIU’s development office, alumni relations, public information, corporate relations, WNIU and the technology/commercialization center.

NIU Foundation President Richard Ubl said design and cost estimates for the renovation of the Palmer Building will be considered by the board in the late spring or early summer.

Ubl said an architect hired last fall submitted costs estimates and design possibilities to the board, but the plans were rejected.

“Revisions have to be made on the plans before we can accept them,” Ubl said.

“We don’t even like the plans we’ve seen,” said Tom Montiegel, vice president for development and university relations. “We’ve sent them back to the drawing board for more work.”

Montiegel said the plans had omitted some needed office space and had designed other offices too big or too small.

The vacant Palmer Building, purchased by NIU last spring, has 15,000 square feet of space and two levels, Montiegel said.

“Our motivation for acquiring the building was to free up space for other units on campus,” Montiegel said.

Montiegel said office workers in Lowden Hall are “practically sitting on top of each other. There are about 30 people in 2,000 square feet of office space.”

Montiegel said the technology/commercialization center presently uses rented space in downtown DeKalb, and NIU might save rental money by moving the center to the Palmer Building.

Ubl said the office of alumni relations also is operating with little space, and WNIU is having space problems as well.

He said, “WNIU is in real trouble.

“They have three people working on some desks over there.”

Ubl said it would be a “toss-up” as to who would use the vacated space in Lowden Hall and Kishwaukee Hall, WNIU’s location, if office space in the buildings is vacated.