Indiana Ag Connection - Purdue Ag Administration Building to be Updated

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Purdue Ag Administration Building to be Updated
Indiana Ag Connection - 04/29/2016

The main floor of the Purdue University Agriculture Administration Building, one of the oldest buildings on campus, will be getting its first major facelift since AGAD was built in 1908.

In addition to the design updates on the first floor, people who have walked the hallways of AGAD as students, alumni, faculty members or industry partners can leave their legacy behind by sharing how the College of Agriculture has impacted their lives.

"I think it's going to be a huge improvement in the appearance and atmosphere of the building," said Dinah McClure, who has worked in the building for the last 10 years and is the communication specialist and assistant to the dean.

"With the support of a generous donor, we are looking to remodel the space and incorporate the Purdue brand and the work our college does in a contemporary way to showcase the exciting things happening in our college and the industry while respecting the history of this beautiful old building."

When completed, the main floor will feature a brighter overall look, as indicated by this artist's rendering. The first floor is home to five high-profile College of Agriculture offices: the Dean's Office, the Office of Multicultural Programs, Purdue Extension, Agricultural Research at Purdue and the Office of Academic Programs. Because many visitors walk the first-floor hallway, including prospective students and faculty and industry partners, an updated, fresh look will be a great advantage, McClure said.

Major additions to the space will be LED light fixtures and frosted glass doors, both of which will provide more light in the hallway. Other work will include new carpeting, new paint colors for the ceiling and walls and four computer monitors at strategic places in the hallway. The monitors will allow a more dynamic medium of communication with visitors, showing highlights of the work in each of those areas.

Employee Jane Robertson, who has worked in the building for 40 years, remembers when there were old-fashioned elevators with cage-style doors. Robertson, an administrative assistant for Purdue Extension, said the building has undergone maintenance and general upkeep but that the coming updates will go further by modernizing the building.

"I like that the building will still maintain some of its historical aspects while also getting some modern updates," said Robertson. "From the outside, the building looks impressive, and when someone walks in, whether a prospective student or corporate partner, they're expecting to be impressed. I think the updates will add to the wow factor visitors are expecting."

A key element of the design is a plan to install frosted glass wall displays highlighting inspirational quotes from students, faculty, alumni and friends of the college as well as global leaders and pioneers in the agriculture industry.

McClure hopes to have a large pool of quotes to pull from so they can be rotated periodically. Anyone with a connection to Purdue Agriculture is welcome to submit a quote, which should be no more than 20 words.

"We are looking for quotes that capture the passion, interest and enthusiasm they have for the industry we serve, their Purdue Agriculture experience, their Purdue Agriculture education, their Purdue Agriculture partnership," McClure said.

Those interested can send their quote to McClure at dmcclure@purdue.edu by May 15.

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