Millbrook parking garage partially demolished over break

A section of the Millbrook parking garage in front of the Charles F. Knight Center was removed over winter break in preparation for the demolition of Eliot Hall.

Beginning this summer, two new buildings will be constructed in the hall’s current location to host John M. Olin School of Business’s graduate program.

The southwest corner of the parking garage used by students, faculty, staff and visitors was removed to open up an area for construction staging, where the construction equipment will be stored and the process will be coordinated.

The project resulted in the reduction of about 100 of the garage’s 1,111 spaces, Steven Hoffner, associate vice chancellor for operations, said.

The removed parking spaces will become a pedestrian plaza after the construction of the new buildings is complete.

Nicholas Stoff, director of Parking and Transportation Services does not believe the reduction in parking spaces will significantly affect those who use the garage.

“There will continue to be available parking in the Millbrook Garage. It may not be as convenient as it once was, but there should still be sufficient parking,” he said. “My department will monitor the space availability in the garage on a daily basis.”

Stoff said his department does have some long-term plans for providing more spaces, but those will not benefit students for at least a year.

“We are in the very early stages of exploring a new underground garage at the east of campus,” Stoff said. “However, this work is not expected to begin until the spring of 2013 or later. There is still a lot of discussion and planning that needs to occur.”

Some students say they were not given sufficient warning about the garage construction.

Senior Johanna Kaufman said she only heard about the construction through the Record.

“They didn’t really tell us…it would have been nice to have an email,” Kaufman said.

“Because I live in Village East, it is very annoying. During the day it is impossible to get a spot.”

The demolition of Eliot Hall is scheduled to begin this June, followed by the construction of the two new buildings. Much of the project is being funded by two donations from October 2010, totaling $25 million.

“We have raised naming gifts for two new buildings—Joanne and Charles Knight have pledged $15 million for Knight Hall, Carol and George Bauer have pledged $10 million for Bauer Hall,” Associate Dean for Finance and Administration Brian Bannister said. “These gifts have enabled us to start the design of the new buildings.”

The project is estimated to cost about $90 million.

“The fundraising effort will be supported by the continued development of the design of our new facilities. We are on schedule to complete design development by the end of March,” Bannister said. “We anticipate occupying the new facilities during the winter break of December 2013.”