NORMAL - The Illinois Capital Development Board announced $4.2 million has been released to begin renovation of the fume hood exhaust system at Illinois State University. The funding will help address deferred maintenance projects on Illinois State University campus that have been stalled due to a lack of investment by previous administrations. Made possible by Governor Pritzker's bipartisan capital plan, the first in nearly a decade, the renovation work will create good jobs and economic opportunities for residents in the surrounding community. CDB will oversee the project's renovation under the protocol for state-appropriated capital projects.
"It is the duty of elected officials to provide young people with the tools and resources they need to shape their future and achieve their dreams," said Governor JB Pritzker. "With funding from my Rebuild Illinois capital plan, Illinois State University will be able to complete long-needed maintenance work and complete the fume hood exhaust system, further protecting the health and safety of students and staff alike while on campus.
"I am thankful to the State of Illinois for advancing the development of the fume hood exhaust system at Illinois State University. The completion of this project will allow students to further their education with the tools and resources needed to enter into their desired career," said CDB Executive Director Jim Underwood. "The Rebuild Illinois capital plan is essential to upgrading and improving facilities throughout the state, and it's a privilege to have an investment of this magnitude."
The project provides for renovation of the fume hood exhaust system, including removing and replacing approximately 165 existing fume hood exhaust air valves, controller, approximately 80 terminal units, and associated stand-alone pneumatic controls. Also included in the scope is the installation of new sash sensors, fume hood displays on approximately 205 existing fume hood workstations.
"The replacement of fume hoods in our campus science laboratories is a vital step in maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for our students, faculty, and staff," said Illinois State University President Larry Dietz. "We greatly appreciate this project being part of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. The experience gained in our campus laboratory facilities helps Illinois State students develop critical STEM based knowledge and skills needed in their field of studies as well as future career opportunities."
"This is why we worked to pass a statewide capital plan, to get funding back into our communities for much-needed improvements to infrastructure, along with the jobs that the projects provide," said State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).
"Today's announcement of capital funding to Illinois State University is a welcomed and overdue development. Illinois State is the oldest public university in the state, and renovation of their fume hood system will be greatly beneficial to both current students and future graduates," said State Representative Dan Brady (R-Normal). "As member of the House Higher Education Committee, I hear all too often the needs of our university system, and I'm thankful we're making the necessary investments to our education facilities."
The historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan passed in 2019 with bipartisan super-majorities and will invest $45 billion in roads, bridges, railways, universities, early childhood centers, and state aging facilities like the new crime lab and Quincy Veterans' Home over the next five years, creating and supporting an estimated 540,000 jobs over the life of the plan and revitalizing local economies across the state.
Original source can be found here.
