News Release
Purdue Fort Wayne completes purchase of Park 3000 building
FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Purdue University Fort Wayne has taken possession of the Park 3000 building at 3000 East Coliseum Boulevard. The university closed on the purchase July 12.
“We are thrilled to be able to move forward with our plan to expand the campus,” says Chancellor Ronald E. Elsenbaumer. “The condition and location of the building and the land are a perfect fit for our institution, and I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make this dream become a reality.”
The property includes a three-story, 77,000-square-foot building and approximately 13 acres of land.
The building, formerly home to Brown Mackie College, is located just southeast of the Main Campus and will become the university’s South Campus. The facility was originally designed to accommodate both administrative and academic use, has been well maintained, and is expected to require minimal renovation to ready it for occupancy. It includes approximately 565 parking spaces.
“This acquisition fits right into the strategic plan for our campus,” says David Wesse, vice chancellor for financial and administrative affairs. “It allows us to address critical needs and to strengthen our operations as we continue to evolve the university’s master plan.”
The Purdue University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the Park 3000 property at its December 2018 meeting in West Lafayette.
The acquisition creates a strategic opportunity for Purdue Fort Wayne to acquire an adjacent property and significantly expand the university’s footprint across Coliseum Boulevard.
This new South Campus will be accessible via the new Parker-Cole Crossing pedestrian bridge spanning Coliseum Boulevard, as well as via a planned shuttle service and potentially new bicycle and scooter services.
The purchase price of the property was $3.85 million and was funded through a combination of donations and other sources.
Preliminary plans for use of the space include creating a new home for the Richard T. Doermer School of Business.
“The idea of a new home for the business school is so exciting,” says Melissa Gruys, dean of Purdue Fort Wayne’s Doermer School of Business. “Space on campus is limited, so as we look to grow our programs in the future, this opens up all kinds of possibilities.”
Potential plans also include a new Career Services Center, the Office of Development, the Office of Communications and Marketing, the Small Business Development Center, and the Division of Continuing Studies. Relocation of these academic and administrative units to more appropriate space will also open up additional space on the main campus for other academic and student use.
For additional information, contact Susan Alderman, at 260-481-6165 (office), 260-489-5349 (cell), or [email protected].
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