The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has given approval for Ivy Tech Community College to make repairs to a downtown Muncie building after an electrical explosion damaged it late last year.

Ivy Tech’s campus in Muncie is spread between three buildings. The downtown-located Fisher Building – formerly the headquarters of the Ball Corporation – was gifted to the community college in 2009 and has since been renovated as part of a $43 million project.

But in November of last year, Ivy Tech says a “significant electrical explosion” in the Fisher Building switchgear room damaged recent renovations. Ivy Tech’s state board of trustees says that includes the destruction of two chemistry labs. Trustees say repairs are necessary to get hands-on lab settings back to working condition.

Ivy Tech says it will pay for the $5 million project with student tuition dollars. State commission members unanimously approved the plan.