Photo // Rafael Tortolero
NORTHSIDE HALL IS UNDER RENOVATION. A look at IU South Bend’s oldest and largest building as it undergoes a much-needed update for students.
By: Sam Simons and Rafael Tortolero
Staff-Writer, Multimedia Specialist
Northside Hall is the oldest and largest building at IU South Bend, for better or worse. Even though it is home to a 224-seat venue recital hall, an observatory and a tunnel to the library, it’s not everyone’s favorite building.
From overheated or freezing classrooms to moldy labs, Northside’s old age may be showing.
In the never ending saga of Northside’s heating and cooling systems, HVAC work has been underway for months. It is unclear when the construction will be finalized, and it has caused closures of the nearby music practice rooms and East Lounge.
“With the rooms gone, most of us don’t have any space to practice music,” Juhan Taylor, a theater student, said.
Shelby Broskey, a music education student, told The Preface that some theater students now have to use the music department’s practice rooms in the horseshoe – the department’s basement suite – potentially causing disruptions for music majors who need the space.
Despite the inconvenience, students said staff have been accommodating.
“They kept us well informed. They let us know exactly which rooms were going to be unavailable at what time before we left for Christmas break,” Taylor said.
The HVAC remodeling is not the only construction going on in Northside. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been under construction since the end of last semester, and signs outside the CIE say “Coming Fall 2025”, but a specific end date has not been announced. While the space is not currently used by students, construction noise may be disruptive.
Another problem that has bothered some students is the alleged presence of mold in the building. The presence of fungi in the building was confirmed by IU Environmental Health & Safety last semester, but the agency was unable to confirm or deny whether it was mold.
Inconsistent bathroom closures have also been reported throughout the building; for example, a men’s restroom in the basement has been closed for at least three semesters.
Strangely, some students report a sensation that certain classrooms “shake” or “vibrate,” speculating that broken ventilation hoods in labs below may be at fault.
Photo // Ashley BergeronNO GEESE, JUST DUCTS. Discarded HVAC components sat briefly on the sidewalk outside Northside.
“The vibrations in the room have been known about for years,” biology student Gabby Gabrielson told The Preface. “It’s the bangs and thuds from the current construction that is very disruptive to lecture and makes test taking distracting to say the least.”
Students have also mentioned that they don’t like the general feel of the building, citing feelings of dread, especially in the basement – this contrasts starkly with a building like Education and Arts, with its open floor plan and abundant natural light.
“Everything just looks like the backrooms and I’m there for like 12 hours almost every day,” Broskey said.
A facilities representative was unable to provide a comment before publication. To submit a maintenance request, you can visit southbend.iu.edu/administration/facilities. More importantly, don’t forget to thank a facilities staffer next time you see one – they have their hands full.
While the problems of Northside seem never ending, the concerns are being taken seriously by the university, students and the construction workers, though resolution often feels slow.
Annoying as it may be, Northside is an old girl, and we have to take care of her. Northside is an important part of IU South Bend’s history and has created countless memories for past and present students.
It has character and gives us character back. If someone ever asks why you’re so funny, you can tell them it’s because you had a class in Northside.