Purdue Fort Wayne approved to purchase Park 3000

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The Purdue University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the Park 3000 property at its meeting in West Lafayette today. The property includes a 77,000-square-foot building and approximately 13 acres of land at 3000 East Coliseum Boulevard.

The acquisition creates a strategic opportunity for Purdue Fort Wayne to acquire an adjacent property and significantly expand the university’s footprint across Coliseum Boulevard.

“We are thrilled to be able to move forward with our plan to expand the campus,” says Chancellor Ronald E. Elsenbaumer. “The condition and location of the building and the land are a perfect fit for our institution, and I am grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make this dream become a reality.”

The building, formerly home of Brown-Mackie College, is located just south of the Main Campus. The facility was originally designed to accommodate both administrative and academic use, has been well maintained, and is expected to require minimal renovation to ready it for occupancy. It includes approximately 565 parking spaces.

“This fits right into the strategic plan for our campus,” says David Wesse, Vice Chancellor for Financial and Administrative Affairs. “It allows us to strengthen our operations as we continue to evolve the university’s master plan.”

Preliminary plans for use of the space include creating a new home for the Richard T. Doermer School of Business.

“The idea of a new home for the business school is so exciting,” says Melissa Gruys, Dean of Purdue Fort Wayne’s Doermer School of Business. “Space on campus is limited, so as we look to grow our programs in the future, this opens up all kinds of possibilities.”

Early plans also include a new Career Services Center, the Office of Development, the Office of Communications and Marketing, the Small Business Development Center, the Division of Continuing Studies, and the Wellness and Health Center at the Park 3000 location. Relocation of these academic and administrative units to more appropriate space will also open up additional space on the main campus for other academic and student use.

The location would become known as the South Campus. It will be accessible via the new Parker Cole Crossing pedestrian bridge spanning Coliseum Boulevard that is expected to open in late spring, as well as via a planned shuttle service and potentially new bicycle and scooter services.

The purchase price of the property is $3.85 million and is intended to be funded through a combination of philanthropy and external sources.

For additional information, contact Nicole Hahn at 260-481-4106 (office), 260-760-7409 (cell), or [email protected].

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