University departments moving into new Alumni Center

University Advancement, Foundation and Conference Services staff members are now moving into the Alumni Center at 1101 N. Main in Normal. The 43,000 square foot facility, which features office space and meeting rooms, serves as a highly visible and welcoming gateway to campus.

A dedication and “ribbon tying” ceremony will be held at the Alumni Center on Friday, July 25 at 8:30 a.m. A reception will follow the brief program. University faculty and staff will also have an opportunity to take self-guided tours of the facility during an open house on Thursday, August 14 from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

With the theme of “A Place for You,” the Alumni Center provides an official entry point for those visiting campus and a meeting and conference facility for use by the University community. The facility consolidates the office locations of approximately 80 staff members from Alumni Relations, Donor and Information Services, Family and Internal Campaigns, University Marketing and Communications, the Office of Development, the Office of the Vice President for University Advancement, the Illinois State University Foundation and the Conference Services area, which in the past have been spread across campus.

“The Alumni Center is a beautiful new facility that provides a gathering place for the whole University community,” said Dianne Ashby, vice president of University Advancement. “The Center also brings many areas engaged in University outreach activities together in one place. I invite members of the campus community to take advantage of all that the Alumni Center has to offer. It truly is a ‘place for you.’”

Despite being physically separate from the rest of campus, the Alumni Center is a seamless addition to the University, even incorporating the Georgian architectural style of many campus buildings. A regularly-scheduled Redbird Shuttle bus provides staff and visitors with a ready connection to the central campus and the 200-space parking lot is a convenience for visitors. The lot will be resurfaced this summer and green areas and upgraded lighting will be added to enhance the parking area. Campus mail codes and phone numbers remain the same for all offices. Fiber optic lines have been laid and the facility is connected to the campus computer network. The Center is the first campus building using Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology for telephones. VoIP allows telephone transmissions to be routed through the Internet. Plans are underway for installing VoIP technology in other University buildings in the future.

In addition to the dedication ceremony on July 25, the Alumni Center will also be the site of the July Board of Trustees meeting. A Grand Unveiling celebration for the facility will be held on October 18, during the University’s Homecoming celebration.