The Iowa State Board of Regents approved the revised project budgets for phases one and two of the Hawthorn Court Development Project during its meeting Wednesday in Iowa City.

One of the reasons the project was revised, according to the board’s docket, was to allow the elevator shafts to be incorporated within the existing design.

“What has happened is, after the last board meeting we went back and, in the more detailed designs of the building, it became clear that there would be a lower cost alternative by adding elevators,” said ISU President Martin Jischke.

Jischke said the plan “had to do with using some storage areas in the buildings and, in effect, stacking them on top of another to create a shaft in which you can place an elevator.”

Jischke also said the renovations would make the cost of the project “come down in the order of about $1,000,000.”

The installation of elevators would reduce the cost of the 23 buildings from the estimated $3,500,000 to about $2,300,000.

Some of the regents were very pleased with the strides ISU is taking.

“I would like to commend the university for its hard work and accomplishments,” said Owen Newlin, president of the Board of Regents.

Other ISU projects that were approved by the board are:

• The Union Drive Neighborhood Project, which will allow the university to proceed with project planning and the architectural selection process.

• A contract extension with Ogden Entertainment Services for an additional two years, for the period beginning July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2001.

• The program statement and schematic design for the Communications Building-Video Production and Instructional Studios Renovation Project, which will renovate studio space in the Communications Building.

• The project description and budget for the Institutional Roads Projects-Special Maintenance 1999 Project, which will provide paving maintenance work at various locations on campus roadways.

• Two utilities projects — the Heating Plant-Generator No. 3 Overhaul Project and the Heating Plant-Coal Preparation Facility Demolition Project.

The board’s next meeting will be held in Ames March 17 and 18.