NIU’s $2.25 million plan to renovate the Chick Evans Field House will go on; however, original plans for the project have been altered.

In January, John Sweeney, director of the Office of Campus Recreation, told the Northern Star that the renovation would include two basketball/volleyball courts and two indoor hockey/soccer fields with boards.

According to Sweeney, original plans also said that if enough money were available, a putting surface would be added; locker rooms would be renovated; and an addition of two other rooms would be added, one for weightlifting and cardio equipment and another multipurpose room for yoga and other aerobic activities.

Jeff Daurer, NIU’s university space administrator and project manager for the fieldhouse, said there have been some changes in the original plans.

The volleyball and basketball courts, along with the track, will be ready when the fieldhouse opens in spring 2004. The two courts for indoor soccer and hockey will be ready as well.

“We are trying to get Student Affairs to buy the boards for the indoor fields so we can utilize more bricks and mortar money,” Daurer said.

Daurer said tomorrow more than 50 contractors will walk through the fieldhouse and placing bids for how much the project will cost.

He also said if low enough bids come in, there may be room to add the fitness and multipurpose rooms. If there is not enough money to fund additional rooms, then they will build in a second phase of the renovation project.

“Instead of renovating the locker rooms, we will just use the existing ones to save money,” Daurer said. “If they are good enough for our athletes, they are good enough for our students.”