The long-awaited, often-debated Campus Life Center is almost here.

Construction of the $7.95 million building is expected to begin in March of 1993. The money for the project recently was acquired through a bond refinancing.

The Campus Life Center will be built on the land which is NIU’s visitor parking lot, located at the northeast corner of Normal Road and Lucinda Avenue.

Cheryl Peck, Board of Regents Chancellor’s assistant, said the preliminary plans call for about 60,000 gross square feet of space.

Peck said the plans are being prepared by Otis Associates of Schaumburg. They have not been finalized yet, but should be completed by December so bids can go out, she said.

Eddie Williams, vice president of Finance and Planning, said bids for the construction contract should go out in January or February so construction can begin in March.

He said the building should be finished within two years of the first day of construction.

“Construction of the building should take much less than the 24-month period,” Williams said. “Hopefully, it should be completed within 16 months.”

The Regents will be at NIU in October to discuss the progress of the project, Peck said.

Williams said NIU hopes to be able to give the Regents a presentation on preliminary plans at the October meeting.

Any subsequent design development drawings will be presented to the Regents prior to the bidding.

The facility will house offices for the Student Association, Campus Activities Board, Counseling and Student Development Center, Career Planning and Placement, University Programming and Activities, the Geological Survey Department and The Northern Star.

Offices for the University Honors Program recently have been added to the list.

Williams said plans for the University Honors Program offices are moving along well, and rightfully so.

“The Honors Program represents what we’re all about and the achievement of our students,” Williams said.

NIU will hold student orientation in the building and there will be areas designed to accommodate commuting students.

Peck said there will be certain areas where commuting students can store their books, coats and other belongings while they are on campus.

A July report to the Regents stated that because of the increase of non-traditional students at NIU, the building will be a place where they can “come together and interact in various ways.”

The report also stated that the building will contain makeshift space envelopes which can be modified to accommodate various uses. These space envelopes will be available to various NIU organizations.