FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2005
Media Contacts:
Columbia College Chicago:
Micki Leventhal, 312-344-7383;
mleventhal@colum.edu
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies:
Betsy Gomberg, 312-322-1756;
bgomberg@spertus.edu
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO AND SPERTUS INSTITUTE OF
JEWISH STUDIES ANNOUNCE SALE OF SPERTUS BUILDING TO COLUMBIA
Expansion Plans for Two of South Loop's Anchors Herald Area's Growth as a 'Cultural Corridor'
CHICAGO, IL - Dr. Warrick L. Carter, president of Columbia College Chicago, and Dr. Howard Sulkin, president of Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, announced the sale of the Institute's building to neighboring Columbia College. The contract, signed today, ends more than a year of negotiations on the sale of the 104,000-gross-square-foot property where Spertus is currently located, at 618 S. Michigan Avenue, in the center of Columbia's 'urban campus.'
The sale comes one week after Spertus broke ground for a new, state-of-the-art facility to be built at 610 S. Michigan, on the vacant lot between their current home and Columbia's Alexandroff Administrative Center at 600 S. Michigan. Columbia is expected to take possession of the 618 property during the fall of 2007, when Spertus moves into their new facility. Until that time, Spertus will occupy the 618 building on a lease-back arrangement with Columbia.
"Columbia's enrollment, and therefore our space needs, continue to grow each year. Add to that constantly increasing technology and studio requirements, various administrative and student services needs and we are bursting at the seams," says Carter. "When we learned that Spertus would be building on their lot and the current property would become available, we approached them immediately. There isn't much property to be had in our neighborhood and we are committed to the South Loop. While this will not solve all of our expansion needs, it is a nice start."
"We were thrilled to work out a deal that both of our institutions are happy with," says Sulkin. "It is wonderful to be able to turn over the building, which has served us long and well, to another respected educational institution that is such an integral part of the rebirth of this area so rich in Chicago history. This sale helps secure the continued growth of the South Loop as an educational and cultural corridor."
Columbia's renovation plans for the $8 million property purchase are still in development, according to Alicia Berg, vice president of campus environment, although tuck pointing and closing of windows in Spertus's north wall, as well as the south wall of the college's Alexandroff center, will begin immediately. "We are nearing completion of a master plan for our campus' expansion, and programming this building is part of that process," says Berg. "With our space needs to accommodate a growing student body and for improving the quality of the educational experience, the building will be a great asset for us."
The new Spertus facility is designed by the award-winning Chicago-based Krueck & Sexton Architects and will feature a façade of folded glass. With more space and state-of-the-art technology, it will include many features to better serve visitors and students of Spertus Institute's branches: Spertus College, Asher Library, and Spertus Museum. "Of particular note," said Betsy Gomberg, Spertus Director of Institutional Outreach, "will be a sophisticated performance space to showcase lectures, concerts, theater and film, allowing Spertus to increase its commitment to innovative public programming."
Columbia College Chicago, an urban institution committed to open access, opportunity and excellence in higher education, provides innovative degree programs in the visual, performing, media and communication arts to nearly 11,000 students in more than 120 undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1890 as a communications school for women, Columbia College Chicago was revisioned in 1963 as a liberal arts college with a "hands-on minds-on" approach to arts and media education and a progressive social agenda. Under the current leadership of President Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D., Columbia is aggressively pursuing this mission. Through the diversity of its students and graduates, the school brings a rich vision and multiplicity of voices to American culture. For further information visit www.colum.edu.
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies invites people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the multi-faceted Jewish experience. Through its innovative programming, exhibitions, collections, research facilities and degree programs, Spertus inspires learning, serves diverse communities and fosters understanding for Jews and people of all faiths, locally, regionally and around the world. For additional information, visit www.spertus.edu.
-end-