Morrill Hall continues to crumble as the temperature on the hall’s restoration fund thermometer edges closer to the goal of $9 million.

In a time when the university is stretched thin trying to meet its basic needs, the question of whether the suggested $9 million will even cover the cost of renovation is looming larger.

The exact cost of the restoration is currently unknown. Kerry Dixon-Fox, architect for facilities planning and management, said there is an intention to send a plan for the restoration to the Board of Regents in February.

With the Board of Regents’ approval, bids would then be taken from construction companies, Dixon-Fox said. There is no certainty as to the final cost until a bid is accepted.

The list of improvements includes installing a new heating system, gutting the interior, replacing the roof and windows, repairing the exterior and installing an elevator to make the building handicapped accessible.

The goal is to save the hardwood floors and exterior, doing away with the rest, Dixon-Fox said.

“We’re basically rebuilding the building,” Dixon-Fox said.

Jason Menke, assistant director of communications for the ISU Foundation, said the restoration fund had reached $5.9 million as of Jan. 7.

However, the amount includes an $850,000 legislative appropriation slated especially for classroom use — money that could be used to support students in other capacities.

This is good news for a fund-raising effort scheduled to end June 30. Neither Menke nor Dixon-Fox said they knew where the money would come from if the goal of $9 million is not reached.

Morrill Hall has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996 and is a lasting reminder of the Morrill Land-Grant College Act, which created land—grant universities.

Despite its historic value, the building was once slated for demolition.

When it was emptied in 1997, the plan under former ISU President Martin Jischke was to demolish the building, Dixon-Fox said. ISU President Gregory Geoffroy had become the new president when alumni suggested they wanted the building to remain.

The promise of alumni support led to the fund to save Morrill Hall, she said.

Dixon-Fox said if Morrill Hall were moved from the state to the national level on the National Register of Historical Places, grants might be available to offset the cost of restoration.

Arvid Osterberg, professor of architecture, remains positive.

He said Catt Hall was built during the same time period as Morrill Hall and was restored successfully, although he said Morrill Hall will cost more per foot to restore than Catt Hall did.

“It may end up being more expensive than tearing it down and putting up a new building,” Osterberg said.

“Some of these things are hard to know until you get into the work.”