Eastern has construction projects in the works as wells as plans for the future, all totaling $4.7 million.

Many of the university’s projects are the result of repairs adding up over time.

“(Facilities Planning and Management) maintains a campus of 3,000,000 sq. ft of building space and approximately 320 acres of land, said Carol Strode, facilities director. “Each year systems and buildings get older. We strive for a well working, well operating campus. This goal requires a great deal of attention, maintenance, construction and funding.”

Eastern strives to maintain renovations.

“Actually we would like to do more but there isn’t enough time in a summer and many times not enough funding,” Strode said.

All construction is going according to schedule, she said.

“Scheduling is a key issue and many times in the spring and summer months, the weather is definitely a determining factor of what gets accomplished or gets delayed,” she said. “This year, the weather worked well within our scheduled times where weather could have disrupted our progress.”

Projects last year and this summer

Last year, fire suppression systems (sprinklers) were installed in Greek Court, Strode said. The systems were installed in half of the University Court complex during the summer, while the remaining buildings in that complex will receive suppression systems next summer.

Stevenson elevators were upgraded during the summer, Strode said. Upgrades included electronic control system, ADA compliant control panels and call stations and new car interiors.

Wiring upgrades for East Hall, the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, were started this summer, Strode said. The project includes a new service entrance and circuit upgrades. The work will be completed next year when the building is vacated for the summer.

Also, five kitchen units were replaced in University Apartments during the summer months, Strode said.

Completed from summer to current:

Pemberton Hall windows in the addition (north wing) were replaced this summer with new insulated units, Strode said.

“Renovation of the windows in the original building continued this summer in student rooms also. Windows in only five of the original rooms have not been renovated,” she said. “Those windows will be renovated when the rooms next become available to our crews.”

This fall, renovation of the windows in Textbook Rental will begin.

The Women’s Softball field was started in July and is expected to be complete in October, Strode said. The project will include remodeling of the dugouts, reconstruction of the backstop, new bleacher seating, enclosing the area below the press box for storage, and adding decorative fencing and masonry columns on the north and east sides.

Sidewalks between the McAfee Gymnasium and Physical Science building were replaced in August, Strode said. Various locations around residence halls received replacement walks, planning for several more areas to be replaced in the spring throughout campus

Recently:

“Installation of synthetic football turf was completed the last week of August in time for the first home game,” Strode said. “Everyone seems to be pleased with the results.”

The turf replaces grass grown in O’Brien Stadium.

The upgrade of the data wiring to academic and administrative buildings are planned.

The fiber optic infrastructure portion of the data wiring upgrade has been bid on and the results will be taken to the September Board of Trustees meeting for approval.

Design work continues on the horizontal wiring and electronic portions of the project. The engineers have spent the summer documenting the existing locations while the campus population was low. They will now be concentrating on developing bid documents with bidding on those portions of the project in November.

Contracts have been awarded for the construction of four intramural softball/football fields southwest of the men’s baseball field, Strode said. Completion is expected late fall but the fields will not be playable until next year in order to give the new grass time to get established.

Lynn Stahlhut, a graduate assistant in the Student Recreation Center, said four new intramural fields will be complete by next fall and two will have lighting. In the meantime, students will play on other fields.

“Using other fields will be an inconvenience now, but it will be worth it later on,” Stahlhut said. Since two of the field will be lit, it will be convenient for students because they can play at later times.

The roofers are approximately 65 percent complete with the Taylor Food Service roof replacement, Strode said. It should be finished within a month if weather permits.

The main construction developments of the Tarble Arts Center are complete, and the project is in the construction phase, Strode said. There have not been any problems or delays.

“Project funding is from the generous support of the Tarble family,” Strode said. “The addition cost is approximately $2 million.”

Strode said they have not had any complaints of disruptions from apartment buildings or homes across the street.

The project overall is coming along “every well,” Strode said.

“Good weather during the summer has allowed the project to progress on schedule,” Strode said. “We have not heard of any material delivery issues from any of the contractors. Structural steel is in place and roof deck is being placed. Masonry will start soon also. If we can get the structure enclosed without significant weather delays the schedule should progress nicely.”

Future plans:

There has not been any progress at this point on the Capital Development Board funded projects, Strode said. The projects include Doudna Fine Arts, remodeling in Old Main, McAfee Gym chiller and electrical replacement and masonry and other repairs of the Physical Science building.

The university is waiting until funds are released before determining what will be done, so the date of completion isn’t known yet, Strode said.

Jennifer Chiariello can be reached at: [email protected]