Furniture factory transformed into state-of-the-art research park

By George Vlahakis

In the weeks approaching the formal opening of Indiana University's Advanced Research and Technology Institute (ARTI), its president, Douglas Wilson, went to meet with Betty Welke, whose father was president of the Showers Brothers Co.

Eight decades ago, the Showers Brothers Co. factory was Bloomington's largest building and the company was a major employer in south central Indiana. Welke had agreed to donate the company's memorabilia, which will adorn the walls of the new research center housed in the old factory.

One piece of memorabilia stood out: a small booklet, Thoughts Concerning the 60th Anniversary of the Showers Brothers Co., which was published in 1928. After bragging of its company accomplishments, which included producing more furniture than any other U.S. company, the booklet offered these thoughts:

"However, big as this accomplishment is, the really big thing about the business is the sheer romance of the achievement -- the way in which tireless human persistency overcame obstacles and nursed an idea from nothingness until it became a tremendous accomplishment."

Wilson, speaking at the research institute's formal opening Sept. 13, said these thoughts moved him to ponder what role the new facility will have on IU's development and how it will be perceived 60 years from now.

"I believe 60 years from now it will be noted that the university 'nursed an idea from nothingness until it became a tremendous accomplishment' -- that it invested in the long run through steady growth and did not anticipate spectacular and instant success," said Wilson, who has directed ARTI since its adoption by the Trustees of IU earlier this year.

The institute culminates a two-year effort by IU to establish a first-class research park at Bloomington that will be a focal point for future partnerships between university researchers and industry.

It houses existing IU organizations with complementary missions -- the Industrial Research Liaison Program, the Office of Technology Transfer, the Office of Corporate Relations and the Office of Licensing and Trademarks -- and is a partner with the IU Office of Research and the University Graduate School.

The technology park contains about 52,000 square feet of usable space. Tenants began moving in three months ago and the facility is about 80 percent leased. The rest of the former furniture factory is used as a city hall by Bloomington and by medical device maker Cook Inc.

In addition to the IU offices, eight private companies have moved or will soon move into the center. "With one exception, all the companies are computer software or computer service oriented. The companies are state-of-the-art research and development firms and are already employing graduate and undergraduate students," said Jeremy Dunning, director of the IU Research Center.

In his remarks, IU President Myles Brand said ARTI is very consistent with the direction in which IU is headed.

"A significant part of the (Strategic Directions) Charter reaffirms IU's commitment to become an energetic partner in the intellectual, cultural and economic growth of the local area and the state," Brand told about 100 people gathered for the institute's opening. On hand were Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez and State Rep. Vi Simpson.

"As a major research center, IU has a responsibility to conduct world-class research and to make that research applicable to the needs of the citizens of the state and the nation. ARTI will play a major role in that effort."

Fernandez thanked IU for helping to create the kind of higher-wage, high-quality jobs that the city wants.

Through ARTI, IU expects to encourage further the transfer of intellectual property of IU faculty to the private sector as well as reach out to small Indiana companies by connecting them with IU expertise and assisting them in preparing applications for government grants. It also will enhance efforts to license IU's trademarks while protecting its image.

ARTI has an annual budget of about $5 million, which will come partly through revenues resulting from technology transfer and licensing.

Henry R. Cooper Jr., IUB professor and chair of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, said an ARTI company is presently considering a proposal to use computer accessible formats to better promote written materials in his academic field.

"This kind of organization we see as very helpful in providing accessibility to knowledge and information in our part of the world," he said.

Return to Table of Contents