In support of the student success and research pillars of the IUB 2030 strategic plan, IU Bloomington launched Project Inspire – a multi-year effort to systematically improve and update instructional spaces on campus, with a target of dedicating $2-$5 million per year over the next five years to improve these vital learning spaces.
An effort to improve our instructional spaces
Process
Starting in Fall 2022, leaders across the IUB community engaged in a collaborative effort to evaluate learning space utilization across campus in terms of room capacity, enrollment, meeting frequency, and foot traffic.
In Spring 2023, the group expanded its work to include capital planning and facilities and a quality assessment of each learning space. This new extended funding commitment, which combined and built on existing renovation efforts, enabled IU Bloomington to bring more timely attention to the spaces that have the most impact on the experience of students, researchers, and staff.
Progress and Future Projects
- As of June 2023, 64% of all campus-controlled classrooms have been recently renovated.
- Of the remaining 60 classrooms, approximately 2-3 dozen classrooms will be renovated in summer 2023.
- Recital Hall will be renovated in the upcoming year.
- Another 5-7 renovations are planned for summer 2024, bringing the total to about 90% of campus-controlled classrooms renovated by next summer.
- Project Inspire will focus on heavily utilized lab classrooms, with the first focus on Biology and Chemistry. These will occur when classes can be moved from the location, predominately summer with some fall overlap.
- Summer 2024: biology lab classrooms
- Summer 2025: chemistry lab classrooms
- Summer 2026: additional chemistry lab classrooms