Building for the Future

Wed., Sep 05

Three major construction projects -- which will help bolster academic opportunities and address the university's chronic parking challenges -- have progressed nicely throughout the summer and are expected to continue through the fall, according to Robert Sheeley, associate vice president for capital budgeting and facilities operations.

The construction of a 1,200-space parking garage (right) on what had been Lot 7 next to the Moore Fieldhouse is nearly finished, Sheeley says. "We expect the garage to be completed in late November and be put into operation for the start of the spring 2013 semester," he says. 

The garage will generate a net gain of more than 800 parking spaces. It will also include four charging stations for electric/battery powered cars as part of Southern's sustainability efforts, Sheeley says.

Meanwhile, the exterior of the older wing of the Buley Library (below left) has been demolished -- representing a major step toward the renovation of that portion of the facility. A proposed design for the renovations with an associated cost estimate has been developed and is under review by the state Department of Construction Services, as well as by several consulting firms and the university's facilities staff. The project is scheduled to go out to bid in October with construction anticipated by early February.

The design for the new Academic Science Building (below right) -- which would be located near Fitch Street next to Jennings Hall -- has been completed. The bidding process is scheduled to begin by early October with construction projected to start by early February. The building would be 98,500 square feet in size. 

"Both the Buley Library and the Academic Science Building will start at about the same time and will have a significant effect upon parking in the lots next to Engleman and Jennings halls," Sheeley says. Sheeley has been meeting with Executive Vice President James E. Blake and Police Chief Joseph Dooley throughout the summer to develop alternative parking plans.

Nevertheless, Sheeley says that these projects will produce a long-term benefit to the university. "The next two years of construction will forever change the look and feel of the university as a 21st-century institution of higher education," Sheeley says.

The Academic Science Building will house state-of-the-art laboratory and equipment and is designed to bolster the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines at Southern. 
The projects follow the completed  renovation of the former Student Center into a new School of Business facility. This has enabled faculty and staff to move from the dilapidated Seabury Hall, which will be demolished soon. The new building has a conference room, meeting rooms and a stock market trading room. A ceremonial ribbon cutting is scheduled for Sept. 21 as part of a series of events marking the inauguration of Mary A. Papazian as Southern's 11th president.