With the semester coming to a close, I want to wish everyone a restful break and a happy new year. This will be the final campus construction update for 2018. Our efforts within the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) will continue over the break, including on the National Veterans Resource Center, the Arch, Bird Library Suite 550, Center for Undergraduate Research in Bird Library, an accessible bathroom in the Physics Building and all-gender restrooms in the Shaffer Art Building and Crouse College, among several other projects. We will also see longer term projects starting to take greater shape in the new year.
Here are the various projects that continue to move forward on campus:
Campus Accessibility Improvements: At the Dome, door operators are being installed at Gates A, C, G, M and N, and will be done by February. Facility services recently completed an accessibility project on the third floor of Heroy. A new door operator was installed to improve access from the elevator lobby to the third floor corridor. Facility Services is currently installing door operators on the northwest and northeast entrances to Carnegie Library. Upon completion of the work, the interior doors will have door operators to work in combination with the existing door operators on the exterior doors, making these entrances fully accessible by the end of the month.
National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC): Installation of the structural steel continues to progress. The building superstructure is taking form, and you can begin to see the shape of the auditorium on the first floor of the building. The structural steel work will continue into February. Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to follow the signs in the area 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.
DellPlain Hall Student Room Renovation: CPDC has retained the services of an architect to design student room renovations. This two-phase project will include new room layouts, new furniture, flooring and other finishes. The first phase is scheduled to be constructed in the summer of 2019.
Day Hall Student Room Renovations: Construction of this multiphase renovation project will continue next summer with additional student room renovations and renovations to the student lounges on the first floor. We have received very positive student feedback regarding the renovations that were completed during the past two summers. We look forward to completing the remainder of the work in summer 2019.
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 has commenced. 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 center will be ready for use at the start of the spring semester.
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 to Bird Library Suite 550 in January 2019, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Disability Cultural Center will relocate after Commencement in May 2019.
Center for Science and Technology (CST) Third and Fourth Floor Labs: The design is complete for renovations to four research labs in CST. CPDC has received quotes from contractors, and the work is scheduled to begin in January. These lab spaces are scheduled to be complete early in the spring semester.
Campus Wayfinding and Building Signage: 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. Steel is being erected in Building B. Pouring of the concrete foundation walls of Building C is ongoing.
Crouse College and Shaffer Art Building: The construction of two new all-gender, accessible restrooms will begin during the semester break. These new restroom facilities will be located on the first floor of each building.
Hendricks Chapel: HVAC improvements will continue throughout this semester break and the spring semester. Significant work will take place within the chapel during the semester break. The HVAC improvements include the addition of air conditioning to the chapel and are scheduled to be complete by May for Commencement events in the chapel.
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.
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