Cole Hall renovation plan decided

SPRINGFIELD -- The head of Northern Illinois University has decided on a $7.7 million plan to remodel the lecture hall where five people were slain by a suicidal gunman on Valentine's Day.

Citing overwhelming support from an online survey, school President John Peters said Thursday that the facade of Cole Hall will be updated and the auditorium where the killings took place will no longer be used as a classroom. Cole Hall's other auditorium will be reopened on the campus in DeKalb.

The building has been empty since the gunman burst in and fatally shot five students and wounded 18 others before turning the gun on himself.

The proposal also calls for new 7,800-square-foot, 400-seat auditorium in the center campus area, either connected to an existing building or as a freestanding structure. Campus officials say the new building is necessary as they struggle to find space for the classes once held at Cole Hall for the upcoming school year.

"These are not two separate projects, they are one solution to an emergency situation," Peters said in a telephone interview.

Peters and other NIU officials met with representatives from the governor's office and legislators Wednesday to update them about the plans. He said he is hopeful lawmakers can help pay for the proposal despite the state's budget deficit.

NIU officials believe the proposal could be finished by 2010 if the state agrees to pay for the plans this year.

Peters said the decision was made last week, after he and campus leaders reviewed the survey results.

"I'm optimistic that we've put together a proposal that meets our emergency instructional needs that is cost effective," Peters said.

Peters initially wanted to tear down Cole Hall, create a memorial in its place and build a new $40 million structure. The idea proved unpopular. University officials then collected thousands of opinions on Cole Hall's future through e-mail, open forums and meetings.