An exclusive tour of the Doudna Fine Arts Center has been postponed.

The Faculty Senate, along with Provost Blair Lord, was supposed to be given a tour of the fine arts center during today’s senate meeting at 2:30 p.m.

James Johnson, dean of the college of arts and humanities, said his office received a call late last week informing him that Doudna project design architect Antoine Predock would be on campus today for a brief period of time.

“It was essential that I, and others associated with the project, were available to meet with him during his visit,” Johnson said.

Because of Predock’s visit, the faculty senate’s tour will have to be rescheduled for a later date.

Predock was last on campus in April 2006 to speak to university and community members.

Predock was recently hired to co-design the International African American Museum with Moody Nolan. The museum will be built in Charleston, South Carolina.

Predock won the 2006 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for career achievement, including the design of Doudna. The award has been given out only 62 times in the last 150 years.

While the tour has been pushed back due to Predock’s campus visit, senate member Robin Murray said she is looking forward to seeing the new facilities.

“I am very excited to see the auditoriums, especially the one dedicated to film,” Murray said. “I am also looking forward to seeing art and music education spaces, as well as gallery space for student installations.”

A new date for the tour has not yet been determined.

Faculty Senate Chair Lynne Curry said the senate would have a regular business meeting at 2:30 p.m. today.

The senate will primarily discuss elections and the faculty forum, Curry said.

Barbara Harrington can be reached at 581-7942 or at bjharrington@eiu.edu.

Doudna Fine Arts Center, Eastern’s modern art facility, is set to be complete in fall of 2008. The Faculty Senate’s tour of the center was postponed because of a visit by design architect Antoine Predock. (Bryce Peake/Daily Eastern News)

(more…)