The Martin C. Jischke Honors Building is nearly complete. It only needs furniture before the move-in process can begin May 9.

Roughly $83,000 was spent on “moveable equipment” for the new building, including chairs, tables, wastebaskets and technology equipment.

Liz Beck, director of the University Honors Program, said program administrators have been directly involved in all of the planning, from floor plans to furniture. The planning will become reality when the Honors Program moves into its new home during finals week, she said.

“This has been a really thoughtful process,” Beck said. “These were not snap decisions.”

Beck said cost of furniture, floor surfaces and the like are all included in the general budget for the building. To cut down on some of those costs, some chairs from Osborn Cottage will be reupholstered, but most of the furniture has been recently purchased.

“This is a chunk of change in the budget and we need to think carefully,” Beck said.

In July 2000, at the same meeting the name of the building was approved, the Board of Regents approved the schematic design of the building and its $2 million budget.

Barb Boose, communications director for the ISU Foundation, said $1.47 million of the needed funds were private gift funds raised by the Foundation. According to Regent documents, the remaining funds came from investment income.

“Furnishings are part of the larger project budget,” said Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance.

“Often, furnishings are one of the cost components done last because that is a place where, if the budget is tight, you can cut back and add later on.”

Ronell Lindeman, designer with Linda Glantz Interiors, 406 Main St., said many clients searching for both commercial and home furnishings view furniture as an investment.

“The construction of commercial pieces can withstand more wear and tear,” Lindeman said. “But furniture in the home can reflect more personal style.”

Beck said the new building is twice the size of Osborn Cottage, which will allow for more tables and chairs instead of the pillows used as seating at the cottage. The lounge area will now seat 30, rather than the 13 that could fit in the cottage’s lounge.

The new building’s features include three classrooms, a computer lab, a resource room and a kitchenette, in addition to office space. It totals 7,417 square feet.

Beck said the most challenging planning aspect for the building is considering everything.

“We are trying to think through all possibilities,” she said. “This is a 24-hour building that will need to accommodate formal presentations, classrooms, informal space for students for gatherings, study groups, computer usage and individual study.”

The versatility of the building requires versatile furniture, Beck said.

Furniture in the Jischke Honors Building will be around for some time into the future.

“This is not like your private home when you can change things in seven or eight years,” Beck said.

“This is how it’s going to be. I had to think longer down the road.”

Madden said this furniture probably experiences more wear and tear because it’s not treated like things at home.

The furniture must last for a long time and be able to accommodate regular use from all students “from 300-pound football players to students who, well, don’t weigh that much,” he said.