Butler Univ. on Friday announced the “launch of a public fund-raising campaign to repair and modernize" the 84-year-old Hinkle Fieldhouse, according to David Woods of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Butler President James Danko said that the school has “already raised nearly $12 million in gifts and pledges.” Woods noted the campaign “ends Dec. 31, 2013, and there is no timetable for completion of a project that could exceed $30 million.” The first phase “began over the summer with tuck-pointing of 820,000 bricks and replacement of 9,700 window panes with energy-efficient glass.” Plans also include “more chairback seats in the arena, restrooms, scoreboard with video replay, coaches’ offices, academic center, remodeled locker rooms, and training and weightlifting rooms.” Danko said, “A place like this, you could spend $100 million. We’re trying to keep it in the $25-33 million range.” Woods noted Hinkle Fieldhouse is a National Historic Landmark, so “there are restrictions on what revisions may be made.” University leaders have “maintained they don’t want to change the appearance of the fieldhouse anyway.” The arena's “distinguishing features -- bricks, windows, ramps, raised floor, architecture -- will be unaffected in the building’s appearance” (INDYSTAR.com, 11/9). In Indianapolis, Scott Olson noted the announcement “comes about 2-½ years after the university began targeting its traditionally larger donors during the campaign’s ‘silent phase.’” The original renovation plan “called for $25 million in improvements but has been scaled back.” The university said that to complete the campaign, it will “offer several sponsorship options.” Donors can “put their names on brick pavers for $500, on chair-back seats for $1,000 and on lockers for $5,000” (IBJ.com, 11/9).
