Relocation

The School is looking for a new home on campus, but the search has been long and difficult. In October the faculty declined a preliminary University proposal to move the School out of Macky Auditorium and Norlin Library into the Armory across University Avenue.

The Armory offer was the result of discussions Chancellor Richard Byyny had last fall and spring with the School's Advisory Board, when he said he would seek a temporary solution to the School's facility needs and would work with the School on a long-term solution.

The faculty did not totally reject the proposal, noting that its decision was based on the information that it had at the time and agreeing to reconsider the proposal if questions concerning safety, renovation of the Armory and whether this was a temporary or permanent move were answered.

Both Jones and Associate Dean Meg Moritz said the Armory could offer the School some much-needed space. There would be more room for computer labs, the Campus Press office, student groups, seminar rooms and faculty offices.

"The move could offer some real positive possibilities for the School, " Moritz said.

At a recent faculty meeting Vice Chancellor Phil DiStefano told the School that the administration was committed to a new longer-term facility for the School in the Hunter/Sibell Wolle area of central campus, but that pending plans and fund raising for a new facility, the move to the Armory might be for a five-to-eight year period.

"He said the School should be in line to get a new building on the central campus and needs to prepare a program plan," Jones said.

Moritz said she understands the faculty's reluctance to move to the Armory. Faculty, staff and students have expressed several concerns.

Photo courtesy Gretchen Struble

The Armory would be the School's new home, under a proposal from CU administrators

Should the School move across University Avenue, it would bethe first academic unit not housed on the campus proper.

While the University has long-term plans to expand north across University Avenue into the Grandview Terrace area, members of the School community pointed out that the University proposal included no immediate plan for getting several hundred journalism students safely across busy University Avenue each day.

Jones, in charge of analyzing the logistics of the move, examined both the relocation cost and safety issues. He said installing a walk light or building a pedestrian overpass have been discussed. A traffic light at the intersection of 15th and University — the only safe place because of the slope of the hill —would probably be unacceptable by the city of Boulder because it would back up traffic into the University Avenue and Broadway intersection. A pedestrian overpass at 17th Street isn't planned for another decade. A raised crossing and stop signs are being considered, but any plan would need to be negotiated between the city and the University, Jones said.

Concerns about whether enough money would be made available to renovate the aging Armory building from all office space into modern classroom space and faculty offices is also being discussed by the faculty.

"Money is one of the major holdups right now," Jones said. Once final costs are determined, it is hoped that the University administration will be able to respond to specific requests.

"Safety and costs are still being evaluated and the faculty will vote again in the near future." The matter may be settled by early next year, Jones said.