Since the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center was built more than a year ago, the basement of the building has remained empty and dormant.

Administrators say the building’s emptiness was expected even before the $6.2 million project was completed in the fall of 2005.

“When the building was built, there were no plans to use that space,” said Jeff Daurer, NIU director of capital budget and planning.

Previous possibilities as to why the basement had not been completed included money complications. Although money is always an issue, Daurer said the funding of the building was not the reason.

The Alumni Center has been a home for the Alumni Association and various university events since its opening.

The division of finance and facilities is in the process of discussing how to use the empty space with programs across campus.

“We haven’t decided on what program will use the basement,” Daurer said.

The current use of the basement stays within the context of the building. The programs that currently reside in the Alumni Center have used the basement space as storage and for various other activities.

“I would ballpark the project would take about six months to complete once a program has been chosen,” he said.

Administrators declined comment on which groups on campus are vying for use of the building’s basement.