The university's Board of Governors on Thursday approved eight projects across the school's three campuses, contingent on Rutgers winning state grant money.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- The chase is on for $98.5 million that Rutgers University says will allow it to check off a list of overdue renovation projects, including one that has vexed students for decades.
The university's Board of Governors on Thursday approved eight projects across the school's three campuses, contingent on Rutgers winning state grant money.
The projects include $35 million for the administrative services building in Piscataway and $17 million for the clinical academic building at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.
Without a grant, the university won't be able to move forward with the projects, said Antonio Calcado, Rutgers' senior vice president for institutional planning and operations.
"We are going to have to find other ways to do these projects, and it will delay us getting these done," Calcado said Wednesday.
Rutgers will be competing against other New Jersey colleges for $180 million New Jersey is offering in its latest round of grants for higher education construction and renovation. Applications for the money are due Friday.
The state in 2013 approved more than $1.3 billion in grants to New Jersey colleges to upgrade their buildings, classroom and laboratories, including funds from $750 million in voter-approved borrowing.
The cost of Rutgers' eight projects range from $3.5 million to $35 million.
The administrative services building, which carries the highest price tag, would get an interior renovation and infrastructure upgrades. Plans also include a small addition to the building, creating a new student entrance near a bus stop and transportation hub, according to the university.
Students currently have to go to different buildings across the sprawling New Brunswick campus for registration, financial aid, dining services, residence life and other matters, Calcado said. The new building would create a central location for all of those needs, he said.
"It's always been the bane of Rutgers' existence that we do this to students, that we make them go to so many different places," Calcado said.
Details about all eight projects are available online.
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