Env. Sustainability
Construction News
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Facilities Management
Construction News
Overview: This is a brief status report of project progress as we approach the half-way point of the summer construction season.
Academic and Administrative Buildings:
Rector Science Complex: We are in the finishing touches phase of the project. The faculty have moved into the building and landscaping work around the building is well underway. The external sun shades for the building and the installation of the glass rail system for the stairs are two outstanding issues that will be resolved before the end of July.
Now that the project is nearly complete, Borough street cleaning operations on Louther Street, between Cherry and College, will be re-instated. Please pay attention to the parking signs which indicate one morning each week when parking is not permissible due to street cleaning. The Borough generously allowed the college to temporarally suspend this operation during the building construction to assist with parking requirements created by the construction activity.
Althouse: Renovations to transform Althouse into the new home for International Business and Management (INBM) and Economics will commence in early August. The finished project will include 25 offices and 8 classrooms. In early August, the Althouse Parking Lot will go off-line and will be used as the staging area for construction until the project is completed in the summer of 2009. When completed, the current Althouse Parking Lot area will become a beautiful new green space between Althouse and The Quarry. The Althouse project will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification.
Dana Parking Lot: At long last, the modular buildings that were installed behind Dana Hall over ten years ago to provide space for psychology’s animal laboratories (now in Rector) have been removed from the Dana Parking Lot. The Dana Lot will be modified to provide spaces for more than 15 cars, making up the decrease in spaces from the Althouse Lot.
Kaufman Hall: The Geology and Environmental Science departments have decided to remain in Kaufman Hall. This decision supports the Master Plan idea of creating a new Science Campus for the northern sector of campus, with the Rector Science Complex and Dana Hall on the eastern edge of this campus, Kaufman on the western edge, and a new campus green in the middle. (See the image to the right). A Design Committee, consisting of students, faculty and staff, has been meeting this winter and spring to develop program enhancements for the building, including the addition of the new Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education. The design committee is being lead by Dusty Rhoads of Rhoads Siegel Architects, Inc. – the same design consultants used for The Rector Science Complex. The building will seek LEED Silver certification, or better. The design for the building will continue to evolve over the summer and fall, and the renovation schedule will be developed during this timeframe.
Organic Farm: Renovations to date have been extremely successful, with the upper level of the barn and the installation of the new greenhouse substantially completed, an irrigation pond installed, and the compost area enhanced. Barn renovations will continue this spring, along with the installation of housing facilities (yurts) for farm interns. The intern housing accommodations will include a solar shower and a composting toilet.
HUB Renovations: This summer, renovations will be made to start reorganizing Student Life offices and spaces in the building to best accommodate programmatic goals and needs. The renovations are very important but are modest in nature, since the HUB requires significant attention and has been identified by the Master Plan as being a high priority for significant upgrades and changes.
Biddle Field: The project to install a new 8-lane track and synthetic playing field at Biddle Field stadium will commence in April and will be completed in August, 2008 -- in time for the football team and fall sports teams to start using the new facilities. The project will include new landscaping along High Street with a new entry gate at the western end of the facility that will become a new gateway to the entire campus for those approaching from the west. Also, the stadium will include new lights that will accommodate night practices and night games. The project is expected to cost approximately $3 million and is predominantly funded by generous gifts.
Residence Halls:
171-173 West Louther Street: The college has entered into a multi-year lease of 171, 173 and 179 West Louther Street, which are properties located at the northeast corner of Louther and West Streets. This spring and summer, renovations will be made to 171 and 173 West Louther to prepare them for residence hall use in August. The properties will house approximately 20 students and will be apartment style.
Mathews House: Envelope and infrastructure renovations will be made to the Mathews House this summer. The house is in need of significant upgrades, including a new heating and cooling system, new windows, and significant roof and gutter repairs.
Residence Hall Lounge Upgrades: Renovations to the lounges at Armstrong and Atwater last year were extremely successful. Although these two Quad buildings are in need of a full renovation, funding realities coupled with a new strategic direction dictated that the renovations focus on the lounge spaces in the buildings. The lounges are extremely well used and have made the buildings very popular – despite the fact that additional renovations are still required. Consequently, the college plans to continue focusing on lounge upgrades in the remaining large residence halls that haven’t been modernized in decades – to best serve current generations of students and to prolong the viability of the halls until the funds become available for more extensive modernization efforts. This summer, the lounges in Adams, Malcolm and Witwer Halls will be modernized. Renovations are being designed with student input, and will include new kitchen space, study space, and TV rooms.
Fire Safety Upgrades: This summer new fire detection systems will be installed in Armstrong and Atwater Halls, and a new fire suppression system will be installed at 170 West Louther – which is an apartment building housing 12 students.
Roofing Replacement Projects:
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