Transit Club News Connecting Purdue-Chapter Alumni of Triangle Fraternity June 2023
Chapter House Summer Refresh Initiative The Purdue Triangle Alumni Board has authorized a new project to “refresh” the interior décor, furnishings, exterior façade, and landscaping of the Chapter House. These renovations will provide a more inviting and livable environment for our Active Brothers while increasing our pride in the Chapter for both Actives and Alumni. Additionally, we believe these improvements will greatly help recruit new members during Rush. We have code-named this project the Summer Refresh Initiative (SRI). Further, we believe these improvements will meet our needs for the next 3-5 years, before a major renovation/ rebuild project can be started. The current House was completed in 1957, with expansions in the 1960s and 1990s. After 65 years, the House exterior looks dated, and the interior has fallen into disrepair. The Board unanimously agreed that we needed to update the exterior and interior’s visual appeal to match our desired brand image and achieve our strategic growth plans. Accordingly, we identified improvement areas that could be completed by the start of the Fall 2023 semester and formed an Alumni team to fundraise a minimum of $100K. To date, we have raised more than $210K thanks to the outstanding work of the SRI team and our generous Alumni donors, which have allowed work to begin and additional improvements. We have hired Lori Graham, a DC-based Professional Designer, to work with the SRI team to develop a new “look and feel” for the Chapter House, consistent with our STEM Vision/Mission while creating a comfortable living space for the Actives and visiting Alumni.
The image-changing scope of SRI now includes: Exterior Façade and Entrance (paint and stain); Foyer/Front Hallway/Pledge Desk area (new flooring, drywall ceiling, light fixtures, and paint); Formal Living Room (new flooring, drywall ceiling, light fixtures, and paint); 1st-floor Dorm Hallway (new ceiling, paint, light fixtures, and water fountain); Stairwells (new paint, floors, and light fixtures); Dining Room (new ceiling, paint, drywall segments, light fixtures, and furniture); Chapter Room (new ceiling, drywall segments, paint, and light fixtures); and Social Function Room (new paint and light fixtures). Project implementation started on May 17, with interior demolition of existing flooring and ceiling tiles, and exterior façade painting and staining. See the included photos illustrating the work in progress. For Alumni who have already donated – thank you very much! If you have not yet donated – there is still time to help with SRI. The initial demolition has exposed some additional fire alarm/sprinkler and electrical work that will be required, as well as several additional improvements needed to meet our desired brand image and further enhance the living experience in the House. These additions include: conversion of the 2nd-floor library to a new social area, new custom shelving and benches in the living room, new furniture for the Chapter room, and a new audio-visual system for social areas. With these additions, the revised total project estimate is now $285K. So, we have a revised goal of an additional $75K. To donate to the SRI project, see our new Alumni website for details to pay by either check or credit card: https://PurdueTriangle.com