Editor's note: In honor of the university's centennial year, The Daily News is counting down 100 days to the university's celebration Sept. 6 with 100 of Ball State's most famous traditions and figures. Check back each day to read about Cardinal history.
The Art and Journalism Building, or AJ to most students, was complete in 2001, along with Shafer Tower and Scheumann Stadium.
In a previous Daily News article, then-director of facilities planning and management Kevin Kenyon, said the building cost nearly $30 million to complete.
After its completion, the Department of Art, which was previously located in the Fine Arts Building, was transitioned to AJ. Additionally, the Department of Journalism, previously located in West Quad Building, was relocated.
While it originally held franchises like Sbarro’s Pizza and Starbucks, AJ is now home to the Atrium Food Court, where students can get food from places like Papa John’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A and Boar’s Head Deli.
“Hopefully this will become a hangout spot for students who want to get together or just sit quietly and read a book or study,” Kenyon said at the time.
Additionally, the building hosts Ball State Bookstore, Jamba Juice and classrooms and studios for public relations, journalism and art students.
The ground floor hosts three-dimensional studios for ceramics, metals, sculpture and wood-working. The studios, which contain over $100,000 of equipment, according to a previous Daily News article, provide ground-floor access for heavy objects, bronze and aluminum casting, large-scale fabrication and outdoor working space.
Located on the upper floors of the building are photography studios, animation studios, workspaces for Ball State’s student media groups, and two-dimensional art studios for printmaking, drawing, painting and 2D foundations.
Also located in the building is the Atrium Gallery. The 2,000 square foot gallery showcases student, faculty and professional work.
Read more centennial content here.
Contact Brynn Mechem with comments at bamechem@bsu.edu or on Twitter @BrynnMechem.
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