National-Louis gears up for Skokie expansion plan

By Ken Goze
staff writer
published in LINCOLNWOOD REVIEW, WILMETTE LIFE and SKOKIE REVIEW on Nov. 17, 2005

National-Louis University is on track for the planned June 2006 relocation from its historic Evanston-Wilmette campus to the former Pfizer Building at 5202 Old Orchard Road in Skokie, university officials said Friday.

Wilmette, meanwhile, prepares for a redevelopment that would convert much of the former college property into a new subdivision.

In a town-hall style meeting, university officials outlined their plans and timetables for the new location, which will occupy four floors in the former pharmaceutical building. The university made the decision to sell its 77-year-old flagship Evanston-Wilmette campus last year to find a new North Shore area location that would be more centrally located and adaptable to modern technology.

Bill Roberts, vice president of operational services, said demolition work in December will clear the interior space at the Skokie location for a build-out that will be substantially completed by mid-June and ready for the start of classes June 26.

"We will start the summer program at the new campus," Roberts said.

Roberts and architects for the project described floor plans and features that will mirror many of those found at the university's newest branch campus in Lisle. Those focus is on user-friendly space for students who are often working adults taking night courses, and "smart" classrooms that incorporate the latest technologies.

Because the building's first and second floors are broken up by lobbies and a passageway to a parking garage, the university will start on the third floor with a one-stop welcome center with student services, registration, financial aid, library and student lounge.

The fourth floor will include classrooms, group study areas, staff and faculty offices. The fifth floor will be filled with classrooms of varying size, and the sixth floor will hold specialty classrooms for science, art and computer labs.

"All media will be affixed to the room. We have very little need to shuttle TV carts through the halls anymore," Roberts said.

Another factor for commuting students is that the new campus will be much closer to the Edens expressway and also will be served by PACE buses. Skokie officials hope to get the Skokie Swift el line extended to include an Old Orchard stop.

Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said the village will work with National-Louis to work out issues of transportation, recycling or anything else that might arise in the university's new home.

"We really are absolutely delighted that National-Louis is coming to Skokie," Van Dusen said.