With building additions and renovation projects concluding at the College of Business Administration and the Institute for Human Science and Culture in the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology, grand openings will be on the University calendar in coming months.
And, with the warm weather here, the upcoming campus construction season includes a slate of state, local and donor-funded projects that will continue or will be undertaken in the coming months.
As of this month, here are the scheduled projects that will soon continue or get underway:
Institute for Human Science and Culture (Donations Funded)
The Institute for Human Science and Culture construction will conclude during May 2019. The institute is located on the third and fourth floors of the former Roadway Building. The space will include three large galleries, classroom support space, offices, workshop, conditioned archive and lab spaces. Expect to hear soon about its “grand opening.”
CBA – Professional Development Center (Donations and Locally Funded)
Construction for the College of Business Administration’s 12,000 square-foot addition and 2,300 square-foot renovation project will conclude during July 2019. The addition and renovation added labs, study and lounge spaces, a corporate classroom, a boardroom and office spaces. The added and renovated space will be online for the fall 2019 semester. Expect to hear soon about the “grand opening.”
Gallucci Hall Abatement and Razing (State Capital Funded)
Abatement is ongoing at Gallucci Hall in preparation for its razing during the August 2019 timeframe. Site restoration, including green space and a new parking lot will be completed during spring 2020.
West Campus/Polsky Parking Deck (Locally Funded)
The West Campus/Polsky Parking Deck will undergo major renovations/repairs this summer. Construction is expected to begin during June 2019 and is expected to conclude during November 2019. Repairs to the top level will include support beam replacement, concrete repairs, expansion joint replacement and the application of a new waterproofing system. In addition, the north stair tower will close for repairs for the duration of the project; however, the three other stair towers will remain open. Approximately 1,200 of the deck’s nearly 1,500 parking spaces will be available throughout the project. Directional signage for cars and pedestrians will be located throughout the parking deck during the project. Look for project updates, including alternate driving and walking routes, in upcoming campus announcements.
Sumner Street Bridge Replacement (State Capital Funded)
The Sumner Street bridge, which connects the front door of the Auburn Science and Engineering Center (ASEC) and the Jean Hower Taber Student Union, will be replaced. The existing bridge will be removed, beginning May 2019, and the new bridge is expected to open during October 2019. Look for project updates, including alternate walking routes, in upcoming campus announcements.
ICS Testbed/Polsky Building Suite 466 (Donations Funded)
Construction is underway for the new Industrial Control Systems Testbed/Cyber Security suite in the Polsky Building. Construction is expected to be complete during July 2019. Expect to hear soon about the “grand opening.”
Elevator Modernization (State Capital Funded)
Elevators in Kolbe Hall, Auburn Science and Engineering Center and Bierce Library are scheduled for modernization. The Kolbe Hall elevator project will begin during May 2019 and will be completed by the time classes resume in the fall. The ASEC (1) and Bierce Library (2) elevator work will begin during June 2019 and will be phased to ensure students, employees and visitors continue to have access to the upper floors via another elevator. The elevator work is expected to be completed by January 2020.
Roof Replacements/Renovations and Air Handler (State Capital Funded)
Mary Gladwin Hall (renovation), Computer Center (renovation), Guzzetta Hall (replacement), Whitby Hall (replacement), and the Forge Street (replacement) and Carroll Street (replacement) substations are scheduled to get new roofs this summer. Except for Whitby Hall, the phased work will begin during May 2019 and is expected to be completed during September 2019. Meanwhile, the Whitby Hall roof and its new air handler will be completed by April 2020. The building occupants can look for project update information from the respective building coordinator.
Hower House – Carriage House Repairs (Donations Funded)
The Carriage House at the Hower House will undergo structural repairs this summer. Construction will begin during May 2019 and is expected to be completed by August 2019.
PFOC Energy Center Boiler Controls (Locally Funded)
Design is underway to replace electronic controls in the University’s central heating plant. The heating plant provides heat to 30 buildings in the center of campus. The project will modernize the controls package and enable the plant to operate more efficiently. Construction is expected to begin during May 2019 and be complete by November 2019.
Kolbe Hall Chiller (State Capital Funded)
Design will begin shortly to replace the chiller at Kolbe Hall. The replacement is expected to begin during October 2019 and be completed during March 2020.
E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall LED Lighting (Locally Funded)
Design is underway to replace the existing lighting with LED lighting at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. The existing 1970s lobby lighting will be replaced with longer life, high efficiency, LED fixtures. The project is expected to begin during June 2019 and be completed before the fall semester begins in 2019.
Buckingham Building Renovations (State Capital Funded)
Design is underway for some renovations to the Buckingham Building. Renovations include a new air handling system and a new home for Academic Achievement Programs. Construction is expected to begin during November 2019 and is expected to be complete during July 2020.
Baseball Field Renovations (Donations Funded)
Design is underway for a new artificial turf surface for the baseball field at Lee Jackson Field. Construction will begin during October 2019 and is expected to be ready for the Zips Baseball Team when it begins the 2020 season.
Campus Infrastructure Improvements – Vaults (State Capital Funded)
The University continues to update and modernize its physical infrastructure. The next phase of underground vault replacement initiate is in the design phase. Construction is expected to begin during September 2019 and to be completed by August 2020.
Campus Infrastructure Improvements – Electrical (State Capital Funded)
The University continues to update and modernize its physical infrastructure. The next phase of the electric distribution system upgrade is currently in design. This project will increase the stability of the University’s electric grid and provide redundancy to several buildings in the center of campus. Bidding is expected to take place this summer with construction beginning September 2019. Construction is expected to be complete by August 2020.
Crouse Hall/Ayer Hall Consolidation (State Capital Funded)
Design has begun on the renovation and consolidation of Ayer Hall and Crouse Hall. The improved facility will house labs, faculty and administrative offices, and modern general-purpose lecture halls. Construction is expected to begin during August 2020 and be completed during July 2022.
Contact Nathan Mortimer, vice president for finance and administration/CFO at ext. 6501 or Stephen Myers, interim chief planning and facilities officer, at ext. 6631 with inquiries.