Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As the semester wraps up, I hope everyone has an enjoyable and restful holiday season and winter break. Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) will continue working on several projects during winter break to meet construction deadlines. Many of these projects are improving student spaces for living and in support of student activities, all while expanding access.
The following are construction and renovation projects happening around campus:
National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC): Building construction is nearing completion. Interior finishes are being installed and commissioning of the building’s mechanical system has begun. Site work around the perimeter of the building will continue as the weather allows. Pedestrians in the area may notice the impressive wood accent wall being installed on the first floor of the building. This wall takes the shape of the new auditorium space. Building occupants will begin to move into the new facility in January. This new 115,000 square-foot multi-use facility will include a regional student veterans’ resource center, 750-seat auditorium, registrar and ROTC classroom space, and the new location for the University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which is currently located in the Falk College’s Barclay wing. Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to follow the signs in the area of construction. You can monitor the progress at the NVRC website and live webcam.
Schine Student Center Renovation: The interior renovation work continues, and the campus community can expect to see the removal of the brick façade on the west side of the building throughout the winter. The renovations include the following:
· an upgraded dining experience with additional seating and varied dining options;
· centralized spaces for student activities, including an expanded space that co-locates the Disability Cultural Center, Office of Multicultural Affairs and LGBT Resource Center to further promote and celebrate intersectionality and inclusion;
· enhanced accessibility, including the installation of accessible pathways using universal design concepts;
· opening and expanding the central atrium, creating a lounge on the main atrium floor and greater connectivity across the building’s floors; and
· versatile spaces and seating conducive to supporting student organization activities, studying, group meetings or lounging.
The Bookstore and Goldstein Auditorium will remain open throughout construction. Information on where to find relocated offices and services during the renovation can be found in this SU News story. The project, identified as a key component of the Campus Framework, will enhance the student experience by creating new gathering spaces, improved facilities for student services and a new dining experience. More information on this project can be found on the SU News website.
Cantor Warehouse: Work will commence during winter break in the café seating area on the first floor. This area is adjacent to the new café space and is receiving updated finishes and new furniture.
DellPlain Hall: Design of phase two of the student room renovation project is complete, and the work will commence in the summer of 2020. The phase two renovations to student rooms will occur on the ground floor through the fifth floor, including new furniture in all of the lounges. During winter break, crews will get a head start on the work by replacing the flooring in the elevator lobbies from the ground floor through the fifth floor.
Brockway Hall: Over the winter break the snack bar countertop will be replaced on the lower level. Improvements to the HVAC system are being planned for summer 2020 construction.
Brewster Hall: The Van Buren Street entry doors will be replaced during winter break.
Link Hall: Electrical improvements have commenced in the student shop on the basement level. These improvements will be complete in early January.
Campus Wayfinding and Building Signage: A working group of University representatives is overseeing a phased Campus Wayfinding and Building Signage project. The project includes exterior campus wayfinding and building signage, a digital wayfinding app, arrival signage to identify campus gateway entrances, interior building signage and donor recognition signage. North Campus, South Campus and Manley Complex parking lot signage installation is now complete. North Campus wayfinding and building identification installation continues. Approximately 30 more signs are in the final stages of manufacturing and are planned for installation in January.
Comstock Avenue Gas Line Installation: National Grid is finalizing the installation of the new natural gas main along Comstock Avenue. Over the next couple weeks, crews will be working along Comstock Avenue, especially near Euclid Avenue and East Colvin Street, to enable the new main, retire the existing main and complete site restoration.
Stadium Roof Project: The contractor is continuing the installation of the steel crown truss, working to complete the north side of the building. With both the west and northeast cranes in operation, material deliveries continue along Irving Avenue and Forestry Drive. To support the crown truss installation, a long-term closure of Forestry Drive is planned from early January into spring 2020. This closure will extend from Campus Drive (to the west) across to the Barnes Center at The Arch (to the east). Roof installation is planned to begin in the spring. The project team continues to coordinate all aspects of the construction to ensure that events proceed seamlessly. Pedestrians traveling from Sadler and Lawrinson halls should observe and follow pedestrian signage. For additional information regarding the pedestrian route, visit the site impact and closures webpage. Please also note that the Stadium is closed to walkers due to construction activities around the building.
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 project manager with any questions you may have. For everyone’s safety, I encourage you to remain alert in work areas, watch for route changes, heed construction flagger directions 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 Campus Facilities Officer