The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved a $2 million budget increase for the Mell Classroom Building at its Feb. 5 meeting.
The original budget was $33 million. The increase will cover Ralph Brown Draughon Library's second floor renovations, repairs to the library's heating, ventilating and air conditioning system, partitions for new classrooms and Terrazzo flooring in the Mell Classroom Building Lobby, according to Dan King, associate vice president for facilities.
The increase will be funded through University general funds.
The trustees also approved the purchase of North Park Deck, a privately owned parking deck at the corner of West Magnolia Avenue and Wire Road, that holds 920 parking spaces.
The deck could be used for residential student parking, King said.
It would also free up 635 spaces in the West Village parking lot which will be used for more student parking, game day parking and possible future development.
The cost per parking space is lower than if the University built new spaces on campus, according to King. The purchase price will be higher than the appraisal price, but the benefits to the University "far outweigh" the price.
Additions to the Band Practice Complex and were also approved.
The additions include the construction of two dressing rooms on the East and West ends of the existing band pavilion and a 3,800 square foot storage building at the East end of the practice field. The grass practice field will be replaced with artificial turf.
The estimated total cost for the project is $3 million, which will come from the College of Liberal Arts gift funds and the University's general funds.
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