The weather hasn’t slowed down our teams working on major building projects, upgrades to classroom and student spaces, and signage projects. You may notice significant progress with the National Veterans Resource Center as the steel is put in place, and also check out our new campus signage that is being introduced to better direct new students and visitors. It is also exciting to note that renovations to the Schine Student Center will begin next spring.
Here are some of the latest updates on projects across campus:
National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC): Construction of the building foundation is complete. Installation of the structural steel is taking place. During the next two months, the campus community will see the building superstructure begin to take form. Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to follow the signs in the area of construction. Sidewalks and travel lanes adjacent to the construction may be closed periodically throughout the duration of construction. A single lane of traffic will remain along South Crouse Avenue from Waverly Avenue to Marshall Street until spring 2019. You can monitor the progress at the NVRC website.
Schine Student Center Renovation: The Schine Student Center will soon undergo a significant makeover. The renovation, identified as a key component of the Campus Framework, will begin in May 2019. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the renovation at its Nov. 9 meeting. The project will enhance the student experience by creating new gathering spaces, improved facilities for student services and a new dining experience. Read more about the project on the SU News website.
Center for Undergraduate Research in Bird Library: Construction of a new Center for Undergraduate Research on the second floor of Bird Library will commence later this month. Located adjacent to rooms 230 and 231, the new space will serve as an entry point for undergraduate research and foster collaboration between faculty and students to expand undergraduate research opportunities. The new office is scheduled to be complete by the end of the fall semester.
Campus Wayfinding and Building Signage: The Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) recently completed phase one of a project to improve and replace signage across campus. Based on feedback from a signage working group of staff and unit leaders, phase one included new signs installed along University Avenue and Waverly Avenue to better identify the campus and direct visitors to the Office of Admissions in Crouse-Hinds Hall. Proposed future phases will include new signs to identify our gateway entrances to campus, improve the identification of buildings and parking lots, and add directional wayfinding signs across campus to assist new students and visitors. Future phases will also include the development of a Universitywide signage standard for all buildings and donor recognition signage.
Archbold Gymnasium: Construction continues to advance quickly in the north portion of the facility (Building A). Interior framing is complete and a significant portion of the mechanical and electrical system has been installed in Building A. Mechanical and electrical work has commenced on the lower level of Building B. Pouring of the concrete foundation walls of Building C is ongoing. Storm drainage work associated with the Arch renovation continues in Hendricks field and will occur in the Dome parking lot during the week of Nov. 12. I encourage you to keep up with the construction progress through the live webcam.
Physics Lab 377: The design has commenced for improvements to the 377 lab suite to accommodate two research labs and shared instrumentation space. The space is scheduled to be complete early in the spring semester.
Crouse College and Shaffer Art Building: The construction of two new all-gender, accessible restrooms will occur during the semester break.
Crouse College Student Services Suite: Construction of an updated student services suite in Crouse College is complete. The renewed suite 200 is a new open, accessible and inviting space.
Hendricks Chapel: HVAC improvements will continue throughout this semester and the spring semester. The HVAC improvements include the addition of air conditioning to the chapel and are scheduled to be complete by May.
Allyn Innovation Center at Link Hall: Schematic design is complete for a new and exciting building addition to Link Hall. The Allyn Innovation Center is a proposed addition on the south side of the building. This addition will provide a new primary entrance that promotes access and creates a hub of academic energy. During the week of Nov. 19, the campus community will see equipment on the south side of Link Hall. The geotechnical engineer will be on site performing soil borings to obtain information for the structural design of the proposed addition.
Bird Library Suite 550: Construction has begun on improvements to suite 550 in Bird Library to provide space for the LGBT Resource Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Disability Cultural Center. These organizations will be temporarily relocated to this location during the renovation of the Schine Student Center. The LGBT Resource Center is scheduled to relocate in January 2019, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Disability Cultural Center will relocate after Commencement in May 2019.
Although winter is approaching, our CPDC staff is busy developing plans for our ongoing project list of improvements to student housing and facilities. In the December construction update, I will share some information on proposed residence hall and classroom renovation projects planned for the summer.
A full listing of construction projects is updated and listed by building on the CPDC website. Please refer to this website periodically to see what is occurring across campus, and feel free to reach out to the assigned CPDC manager with any questions you may have. For everyone’s safety, I encourage you to remain alert in work areas, watch for route changes and follow the pedestrian signs. Visit the CPDC Impact/Road Closure webpage for additional information.
If you have any construction-related questions, comments or suggestions, please email cpdc@syr.edu. For parking concerns, call Parking and Transit Services at 315.443.4652.
If you have questions pertaining to accessibility, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services at 315.443.4018, ADA@syr.edu or equalopp@syr.edu.
Sincerely,
Pete Sala
Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer