Lack of funding for new BSU greenhouse

From The Star Press: MUNCIE — A new home for Ball State University’s renowned Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank has been put on hold.

Construction of the Dr. Joe R. and Alice Pursley Rinard Greenhouse was supposed to have started in September, followed by a grand opening in the spring of 2013.

But the construction bids exceeded the $770,000 budget. W. R. Dunkin of Anderson submitted the lowest bid at $949,000. The highest bid came from Venture 1 of Cincinnati at $1,077,000. Eight other firms also bid.

“The bids came in higher than expected, so we did not accept any of them,” BSU spokeswoman Joan Todd said. “The university is looking at ways to reduce the total cost of the project and looking for additional private funding so that the original concept can be built. At this point, no decisions have been made.”

The purpose of the orchid collection is to conserve rare and endangered species of orchids, disseminate them for preservation and use them for research and education.

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