Facilities planning and management plans to take advantage of the Thanksgiving break by catching up on construction projects and maintenance while the campus is empty.

Crews want to start on the Thomas Convenience Center, work on small repairs within the residence halls and replace wiring damaged during a fire last Sunday night.

Mark Hudson, director of housing and dining, said he was hoping to start on the Thomas Convenience Center over the break after the project was delayed at the beginning of the semester. The university pushed the food pantry project back to avoid being overloaded after construction of the Doudna Fine Arts Center and the Human Health Resource began.

The first phase of construction involves cutting through the brick of the Thomas Dining area to make a door. However, Hudson said the door has not been delivered yet, which may push the project back again until Christmas break.

The Thomas Convenience Center was planned after the success of similar stores in Carman Hall and the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. It will be located in the south end of the Thomas Dining Center and will include a new entrance to the South Quad. Unfortunately, construction cannot begin until the door is delivered, Hudson said.

If delivery delays push back construction, Hudson said it would leave more time for facilities and management crews to work on maintenance in the residence halls.

“Time will not be wasted,” Hudson said.

Carol Strode, interim director of facilities planning and management, said the university usually takes advantage of breaks to repair mirrors and windows and fix other minor complaints.

“They just go from building to building and work on as many things as possible,” Hudson said.

Electricians may also repair wire damaged during an outage last Sunday night, provided enough access cable is available.