Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
This academic semester has presented our campus unprecedented challenges, but the hard work of our students, faculty and staff has once again shown the tremendous perseverance of our community. As the semester wraps up, we can all be proud of how we came together.
Even in these difficult times, Campus Planning, Design and Construction (CPDC) has remained diligent in its work on projects already underway, those deemed mission critical and ones that include regulatory, compliance and/or safety components. Those have included the stadium renovation project and the renovation of the Schine Student Center. I want to thank the campus community for their patience with the inconveniences as the construction teams have moved these projects forward. When the time comes to fully experience all that the renovated stadium and the enhanced Schine Student Center have to offer, we will be able to celebrate and enjoy these two improved facilities and what they mean to our campus as valued spaces in the life of our students and our whole community.
Here is a list of the many projects around campus:
Academic and Laboratory Projects: The summer construction season saw several important improvements to academic and laboratory spaces on campus. In the Physics Building, a lab renovation was completed in Room 012 to provide a new space for Professor Jennifer Ross and the teaching lab in Room 115 was expanded and remodeled. In the Heroy Geology Laboratory, the third floor laboratories in Rooms 313 and 319 were completely renovated for new researchers that joined the University this fall. In Lyman Hall, existing classroom 115D was renovated, and a new classroom was created adjacent to it. Additionally, renovations to Suite 215 in Lyman Hall created a new home for the Department of Geography’s Community Geography Program.
Schine Student Center Renovation: This renovation project is about 80 percent complete. Finishes are complete in the new student organization spaces and in the cultural centers’ suite. Furniture installation has begun in these spaces. The contractor is now focusing on the dining area, the Panasci Lounge and the atrium space (the student living room) that includes a 12-foot video wall and adjacent study spaces. Mild weather earlier this month allowed the contractor to complete the installation of the exterior glass at the Panasci Lounge level, opening this space to additional natural light and great views of the campus. The renovation project is creating new connections to the campus store on the first and second level. New furniture and lighting throughout the building will create improved spaces for collaboration and scholarship. Staff and student organizations are scheduled to move into their new spaces the first week of January. More information on the Schine Student Center renovation, identified as a key component of the Campus Framework to enhance the student experience, can be found on the Campus Framework’s Schine Student Center page.
Life Sciences Complex Power Upgrades: The design process is underway for upgrades to the power systems in the Life Sciences Complex. These upgrades will increase the reliability of the power infrastructure in the building and improve the building’s ability to handle occasional power outages from National Grid. The improvements are planned to take place over the winter and early spring. There will be brief outages required to complete these upgrades, which the CPDC and Facilities Services teams will coordinate with building occupants.
Sadler Hall Elevator Modernization: Work on the third and final elevator has continued throughout the fall semester. This project is scheduled for completion in early December.
Residence Hall Security Cameras: As part of the University’s Campus Commitments, in response to student concerns, additional security cameras will be installed in several residence hall elevators during winter break. This work is a continuation of the installation of security cameras in many residence halls during the past several months.
University College Window Replacement: Phase 1 of this window replacement project began in October. Due to the flexibility and cooperation of many of the building occupants, this project is moving quickly. Phase 1 should be complete in December.
Stadium Renovations Project: On Sept. 26, the stadium held its first event—Syracuse football’s home opener against Georgia Tech—since the last home basketball game was played and the existing roof was deflated on March 16. In the past six months, the renovations have included the installation of a rigid roof, as well as new scoreboards, lighting and sound systems. Restrooms, concessions, locker rooms and air conditioning systems have all seen upgrades as well. The building underwent a tremendous amount of work in the past year and the disruption around the building has been significant. Again, we appreciate the campus community’s understanding, and we look forward to opening the building in the future for the community to share in these improvements.
The interior renovations will continue at the stadium as we are beginning the next group of improvements that will occur over the next year. The west side of the stadium will remain a construction site as we complete utility improvements necessary before restoration. The construction laydown area and trailers in Hendricks Field will remain, although we are working to shrink the size of this site in the near future. Although roads and sidewalks have been opened, construction traffic remains in the area as improvements continue. We ask that you continue to follow any detour signage and pay careful attention in the area.
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 Site 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