Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
I hope the start of a new academic year is treating you well and you’re enjoying the changes made to campus over the summer. As I mentioned in my Aug. 22 email communication, the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) will continue to provide regular updates regarding campus construction via email on a monthly basis.
In addition to the monthly email updates, we will host nearly a dozen Campus Framework forums and construction information sessions. The first Campus Framework forum will be held Tuesday, Sept. 13, (tomorrow) at 3 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium and I hope to see you there. American Sign Language (ASL) and Communication Access Real Time (CART) interpretation will be available for each event. If you have requests for accessibility and accommodations, please contact the Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services (EOIRS) office at 315.443.4018.
This months’s updates include:
- Bowne Hall Renovation: Renovations have started on the first floor of Bowne Hall for the relocation of the Bursar’s Office and Cash Operations from Archbold to Bowne Hall later in the fall semester.
- Center for Science and Technology Siding Replacement: The siding project was completed ahead of schedule. The contractor is now preparing to paint the exhaust stack on the roof this month. Upon completion of the exhaust stack work, the contractor will remove all equipment and fencing from the Q4 parking lot. It is anticipated that all parking spaces in the Q4 lot will be available by the end of September.
- Crouse College Bells: The new bells are in place and the first official ringing was Monday morning at 8:45 a.m. The Chimemasters greeted the campus community with the traditional Westminster Chimes and the University’s Alma Mater. The Chimemasters members will play the bells three times a day, five days a week during the semester and will also play the chimes during special events.
- Crouse College Masonry and Sloped Glazing Repair: Masonry improvements are continuing at Crouse College to restore and preserve the beauty of this brownstone structure. Procurement of a new glass for the sloped skylights in room 400 was unsuccessful in the summer months. The University is working with an architect to identify the correct glass to maintain the historical character of the building. The skylight will be made presentable and weathertight during the winter months and new glass will be installed early next summer.
- Falk College Cafe: The renovations to the cafe on the second floor of White Hall are nearing completion. Cafe construction is scheduled to be complete by the end of September, and the cafe is anticipated to be open to the campus by mid-October.
- Hoople Building Demolition: The ongoing abatement work is nearing completion. The demolition of Hoople is scheduled for October in preparation of the National Veterans Resource Complex (NVRC). The construction of the NVRC is scheduled to commence in the summer of 2017.
- Irving Garage Stair Maintenance: Repair work for the concrete stairs and railings is planned for the stairwell that is connected to the pedestrian bridge. CPDC is currently seeking quotes for this work with the intent of completing the work this fall. Additional information will be shared with the campus community as the schedule is confirmed during the next few weeks.
- Link Hall Accessible Ramp and Auditorium Improvements: The new accessible entry into the auditorium, Link Hall 105, is nearing completion. This new entry is scheduled to be open this week. The construction of the new ramped entry on the east side (Sims Hall side) continues. The concrete foundation walls and concrete ramp have been poured and a new entry has been cut into the building. Work on the snow melt system is progressing well. This entry is scheduled to be open for use by Nov. 1, and is among a number of accessibility improvement and classroom enhancement projects taking place on campus.
- Schine Student Center Exterior Glass Door Replacement: Seven sets of new doors will be installed to replace all the glass entry doors at the Schine Student Center. The new doors will be installed one at a time with particular scheduling sensitivity being paid to the main entry doors. Four sets of doors will be replaced during the next several weeks. The main entry doors (campus side), first floor west entrance (Newhouse School side) and the north entrance (Waverly Avenue side) will be replaced during Thanksgiving break. This project also includes adding electronic locking and card access on all doors at the building, a feature that is installed on almost all other University facilities.
- Sims Hall Exterior Stairs: Concrete foundations and stair bases are complete at all five entrances. Temporary wood stair treads and railings have been installed until the new granite treads arrive in late September. Upon the installation of the new stair treads measurements for custom railings will then be taken and new railings installed in late October. Work continues on the mechanical room for the proposed snow melt system to be operable by the winter.
- South Crouse Avenue/University Place Promenade: A steam line repair is necessary on the west end of the Promenade. This work is scheduled to begin Friday, Sept. 23, and be complete by Monday, Sept. 26.
- Water Main Replacement Sims/Forestry Drive: The 24-inch water main installation is complete. The new pipe is being tested prior to being placed into service next week.
As a reminder, if you haven’t had an opportunity to read the draft Campus Framework, please visit campusframework.syr.edu. There you’ll find the draft Campus Framework, a public comment section and all the latest news and headlines.
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