The plan will improve the area for the Advancement Offices, including Communication and Marketing, Development, and Alumni and Parent Relations. The project will also provide a new office for Dr. Marv Ott, director of computer services and institutional research, and allow for Neumann Auditorium storage. Printing Services and the Mail Room will permanently move to the former Lair, which is also in the process of being remodeled. The Lair is now in the back of the Den.

The Advancement Offices are temporarily moving to the ground-level of the Fine Art Center, but the telephone numbers will remain the same. Ott's office will be located in Computer Services for the duration of the project.

According to Dr. Mike Book, vice-president for administration and finance, the project's intent is to provide more space.

"Right now, there is a lot of inefficient space with some people sharing offices," Book said.

"The renovated floor will look much like the third floor of Luther."

The plan is expected to be completed at the end of summer, which may mean some temporary inconvenience for the offices because the Fine Arts Center basement is one open space with no walls.

"It's not optimal, but it's workable, and it's going to take cooperation on everyone's part," said Book. "I think that everyone envisions nice new offices in a few months, and that makes it a little more palatable."

The renovated space will include a new entrance between the Classroom Technology Center and Luther Hall. Communication and Marketing will move into the former Alumni/Development area, while the Alumni office will be located in the former Mail Room/Printing Services space. The Development and Advancement offices will move into the old Communication and Marketing area.

The cost of the project is not releasable.

The Luther Hall renovation is one of four improvement projects that were approved by the Board of Regents last term. Other projects include the beginning of the new campus entrance and circle drive in midsummer, as well as the new maintenance facility which Book said is on hold pending relocation of the soccer field. Three of the five buildings in the new student housing have been finished, and that completion date is the end of summer as well.