It is the first week of August, campus is becoming busier every day, and first-year and transfer student move-in is just three weeks away. Campus Facilities is hard at work preparing our beautiful campus for the coming academic year.
Updates this week include:
- Classroom Improvement Cycle: Our annual cycle of classroom improvements is wrapping up. This collaborative effort between Campus Facilities Administration and Services (CFAS) and Information Technology Services (ITS) includes such improvements as updating classroom technology, installing dimmable lighting systems, and refreshing seating, carpet and paint. This summer a variety of improvements are complete, or nearing completion, at Carnegie Library, the Center for Science and Technology, Crouse Hinds Hall, Eggers Hall, Flint Hall, Hall of Languages, Haven Hall, Heroy Geology Building, Link Hall, Lyman Hall, MacNaughton Hall, the Nancy Cantor Warehouse, the Physics Building, the Shaffer Art Building, Slocum Hall and White Hall.
- Crouse College Bells: The new bells will be arriving this week, and we are in the process of scheduling the crane to rig them into place the week of Aug. 8. It will be a sight to see the largest bell, which weighs more than 1,000 pounds, being lifted into place.
- Link Hall Accessible Ramp and Auditorium Improvements: The concrete foundation for the new accessible ramp will be poured this week, and construction on the entry is underway. The new accessible auditorium entry has been cut through, and construction on the new lobby will commence shortly. The full scope of these improvements will be complete in the fall semester.
- National Grid Work at Shaffer Art: National Grid is currently working to repair a minor gas issue between the Shaffer Art Building and Link Hall. We are actively working with National Grid to get this work completed. In the meantime, their excavated area will be plated and kept safe.
- Residence Hall Renovations: Renovation work in Haven, DellPlain and Flint halls is sprinting toward completion in the next week. Contractors will be turning over all three halls in the next week, allowing time for cleaning, furniture delivery and resident director move-ins.
- Sims Hall Stair Replacement: Entry stairs and site stairs on the north side of the building will be opened this week, and site restoration will commence immediately with the intention of having sod laid early next week. Work has commenced on replacing the east entry stairs. As a reminder, granite treads will be installed on these heated stairs over the course of the fall semester, closing no more than one entry at any given time.
- South Crouse Sidewalk: To improve pedestrian safety on South Crouse Avenue, a new sidewalk has been installed. This is one of the many subtle, but substantial, changes completed across campus this summer. Take a look around the Quad and you will see a few other improvements.
- University Place Promenade: Two more large concrete pours will take place this week on the east end of the Promenade, and brick paver installation has begun on the west end. Work in the Quad 2 lot is wrapping up, and it will reopen later this week. The project is on schedule for an Aug. 22 completion, with sections of the Promenade opening up as completed prior to this date.
- Van Buren Street Closure: Critical electrical infrastructure improvements and future electrical distribution pathway installation at Brewster Brockway Boland have been completed, and site restoration is underway. Van Buren Street will be open on Monday, Aug. 8.
- Waverly/Comstock Street Closure: Restoration work on this steam line project site is nearing completion. We will begin pouring concrete road base this week. The road closure at Waverly and Comstock will be reopened in time for the start of work on Monday, Aug. 15.
In next week’s report we will begin to present work that will continue into the academic year. We are engaging with building occupants on these projects to ensure that all individuals are aware and unimpeded in their academic mission. In addition, given the success of our bi-weekly summer construction updates, we will also share the fall construction update meeting schedule. This will give the campus community an opportunity to learn more about current construction activity, as well as plans for semester break construction and construction next summer.
As a reminder, please visit CampusFramework.syr.edu. There you’ll find the draft Campus Framework, the popular live construction camera and a public comment section.
If you have any construction-related questions, comments or suggestions, please email cpdc@syr.edu. For parking concerns, call Parking and Transit Services at 443-4652. And, if you have questions pertaining to accessibility, contact Aaron Hodukavich, director and ADA coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services, at 443-2377 or ajhoduka@syr.edu.
Sincerely,
Pete Sala
Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer