By VALERIE METREJEAN

Staff Writer

What started out as a class project for interior design majors last year has developed into a full makeover for the College of Administration and Business building.

"The CAB has become very dated so renovations will have a major impact on the appearance of the building," Dr. Shirley P. Reagan, dean of the College of Administration and Business, said.

The project is being funded with heavy support from alumnus Mike McCallister, CEO of Humana, and other fundraisers.

Reagan said the renovations are projected to cost around $500,000 and will begin by next school year, or summer 2006 at the latest.

"The changes will not be like those on trendy shows," Vibhavari Jani, interior design program chair, said.

Renovations will include paint, carpeting, liquid crystal display panels and new desks for classrooms.

"Two LCD panels will be installed on the first and second floor of the CAB that will have important dates, pictures and eventually cable access to stock quotes and other business news," Reagan said.

Amber Richardson, student project manager and a senior interior design major, said the team spent time making sure the changes made would not be fads that go out of style but are more practical.

"We want to make changes that are timeless that will not be out of date in five years, but something that will last 25 years," Jani said.

As a member of the team making the design changes, Whitney Bullard, a senior interior design major, said the transformation will give the building a very comfortable feel.

Bullard also said it will be something of which the students can be proud.

Even though the interior design students are not required to continue the project, five students have stayed committed.

"The students said they would like to continue the project on their own," Reagan said.

Jani said she was very proud of the hard work and late hours the team has put in for the project.

"It is great having an actual client and a project that will look great in our portfolio," Richardson said.

Reagan, Jani and the board of faculty that saw the presentation said they were all impressed with the growth the students still involved in the project have shown.

"The board could not believe that it was students who came up with the design plan," Jani said.

Reagan said the original presentation consisted only of plans for updating the library.

Reagan said, "The board who reviewed the presentation asked for expanded plans, and these plans were presented and approved."