Founders Day began with the traditional bell ringing ceremony followed by a special announcement on behalf of the people of Illinois that a $54 million capital investment is currently being contributed to the building of a new fine arts complex at ISU.

ISU President Al Bowman introduced Pat Quinn, Illinois governor, in the Prairie Room of the Bone Student Center who announced this initiative within minutes. Quinn then proceeded to begin a hopefully new tradition and was the first to ring the replica Old Main Bell.

“We are extremely grateful for [Gov. Quinn’s] perseverance in bringing this project to Illinois State,” Bowman said. “The College of Fine Arts offers first-class programs with outstanding faculty, staff and students who deserve first-class facilities.”

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Quinn’s mission of accomplishing Illinois began when he first became governor, he explained. For 10 years, the state did not pass any investment programs and he decided to make the difference, Quinn added.

“We know how, in Illinois, to bring people together, make sure they get a good education, especially in something as important as the Fine Arts and then go out to the world and entertain the world,” Quinn said.

“It’s a fine arts complex. It’s going to cost us millions of dollars; it’s going to involve 775 men and women to build this complex, so we want to really do it right so it lasts and lasts and lasts throughout this century and into the next century,” he explained.

This year is the 150th anniversary of the Alumni Association at ISU. It is significant to recognize because students of today learn from students of yesterday about how being well-educated citizens is substantial in our modern society, Quinn explained.

The design phase will take about 18 months to about two years, Bowman said. There is a plan to temporarily move those who presently learn in the Fine Arts Complex out of the current facility, he added.

The new complex is replacing and renovating Centennial East, Centennial West and the Center for Visual Arts for more than 1,000 students who are in art, music, theatre, technology and dance.

“We’ve waited a long time for this project and the current facility really wasn’t designed to do what we’re using it for today,” Bowman explained. “We will construct the facility in the exact same location, but we will reconfigure it to provide better access to the streets so the public can get in and out of there … much easier and of course make it more appropriate for events.”