(AP) – Southern Illinois University is demolishing nine vacant buildings on campus to save on maintenance costs.

The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale reports that (http://bit.ly/1Opg2LG ) crews will spend the next month reducing the buildings to rubble.

The structures on the outskirts of the campus originally were private homes, but later housed university offices and art studios.

Kevin Bame is SIU’s vice chancellor for administration and finance. He says demolition will cost $317,000 but save the university money in the long run.

He says the buildings have become increasingly expensive to maintain. Most were built in the 1930s and ’40s and acquired by the university in the ’60s and ’70s.

Officials say the work should be completed by the start of fall semester, weather permitting.