Construction will begin in September on the new Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass, a facility that Ball State University officials say will make the school a center for the study of glass and art.
"Its intentions are to bring [in] more students interested in that field," Greg Graham interim director of Facilities Planning said.
The $2 million center will include three glass furnaces, facilities for glass blowing, a computer design lab and workspace that will aid students in creating glass art.
The Board of Trustees formally approved the project Friday with a unanimous vote and chose Ratio Architects Inc. to work on the design phase.
The center will be built with part of a $5 million gift from The Glick Fund, a Fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.
Graham said having a private source for the money meant that university funds would not be needed, and that was one of the deciding factors to go ahead with the project during a tight budget year.
The school officials hopes the center will become a nationally recognized studio as Ball State offers bachelor of fine arts and master of fine art degrees in glass art.
Michael Prater Interim Chairperson Associate Professor of Art was unavailable for comment because he was out of town for the week.
The studio will be on the athletic field between Ball Memorial Hospital and Christy Woods and is expected to be open in time for the start of the 2010-11 school year.
The soccer team currently practices on that site. Graham said they will practice on their playing field temporarily.
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