Margaret BauerReturning students may feel new to campus this fall, thanks to several summer building renovations and construction projects that are giving the University a facelift for the coming year.
Highlights of the work include a continuing renovation project on Wilson Hall, the old home of the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) department, the announcement of a new building planned for the political science department and renovations to the Hilltop campus.
Wilson will reopen in the summer of 2006 to be shared by the biology department-which will move out of its old home in Rebstock Hall-and the Philosophy department. In addition to renovated interior space, there will be an additional lobby area when students enter the building. The exterior appearance will not be changed.
According to Steve Rackers, capital projects manager for the facilities planning department, the design will be consistent with several new University building standards and initiatives. For instance, University planners applied environmentally friendly principles such as those found in the LEED rating system for buildings. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system, is a voluntary standard that promotes sustainability and responsible energy usage.
“Although we are not going for LEED certification, we are using LEED principles in our design,” said Rackers.
Last year the new EPS building was developed using LEED principles and gained certification under that standard.
According to Biology Department Chair Ralph Quatrano, the initial push to move out of Rebstock was considered when the department expanded. Over the last seven years, several biology professors retired, and Rebstock was unable to accommodate the facilities needed by their replacements. As a result, the department decided to move to Wilson after EPS had moved out.
“We are excited about the move. It gives us more space for faculty and for students. It looks like the renovations will be nicely done,” said Philosophy Department Chair Mark Rollins.
Political science will soon find a new home on the side of Olympia Way. Rackers noted that a master plan for a new building along that street has already been made. The building’s 14 additional classrooms will be shared by the Political Science department and School of Law. Construction for the new building will start sometime in the first half of 2006.
Upon completion of the new building, the University plans to demolish Eliot. It will cost the University approximately 30 million dollars to build the new structure.
“I think it will be worth it, but I don’t think it will be necessary. It will be a good thing. The current Eliot building stands out in the camps. It is such an ugly building,” said political science major Lucas Mette, a junior.
Major improvements are also underway to improve the aesthics of Hilltop campus. One of the projects is the pathway renovation near the underpass connecting the South 40 to the Hilltop campus.
Rackers cited aesthetics as one of many reasons that prompted the University to renovate the pathway.
“Renovation in the South 40 has seen a major improvement in the last few years. But our side [Hilltop Campus] was still in a pretty poor condition,” said Rackers.
He also cited several functional problems with the old design, including congestion on the narrow walkway.
In order to better serve pedestrians, the University decided to widen both walkways and replace the wooden railing ties with masonry. Rackers said he hopes the new renovation improved the appearance and functionality of the pathway.
In addition to the pathway renovation, there will be a sitting area near the underpass with sculptures to improve the aesthetic of the space. It will look very similar to the sitting area around the clock tower.
“That hopefully will be a place where people can stop, talk, converse, sit, and relax,” said Rackers.
The planned sculptures will be geometrical figures, though the final design has not been completed. The sitting area will also be complete within a few weeks.