For Release July 19, 2001

Construction and renovation projects move ahead on

Binghamton University campus

A stroll across the Binghamton University campus this summer reveals a host of construction and renovation projects in progress. Using the quite months of summer, when student presence on campus is at its lowest, construction and renovation crews have forged ahead in preparation for the fall semester, with many projects ahead of schedule.

University Union:

Union addition: The contractor's work on the University Union addition is nearly complete. Welliver McGuire is finishing the building a little less than a year ahead of schedule. Over the last couple of months, work on the grand stairway inside the building, flooring, painting, ceiling installations and other finishing touches have been underway while site work progressed outside. The design for the outside area will tie together all the pedestrian pathways on campus.

Once the addition is turned over to the campus, Physical Facilities staff will begin completing all the tasks necessary to occupy the addition. This includes installing locksets, additional wiring for phones and data, window treatments, room numbering and carpeting. Move-in date for departments programmed for the new space is January 2002. The only major space that will not be completed at that time is the University bookstore.

Existing Union: Renovation of the existing Union will begin in or around 2004. Design drawings for the renovation are 60 percent complete, calling for a complete refurbishment of the area.

Field House:

The steel frame of the building is now clearly visible and about 60 percent of the steel is up. In late August or September, the scope of the entire building will become more apparent when eight 187-foot long bowstring steel trusses will be raised to support the roof. The trusses, which weigh 80 tons each, will provide a clear span or uninterrupted view of the many activities that will take place at the event level of the Field House. Construction crews will pour the floor of the building once the steel trusses are in place.

Over the summer, attention has been focused on the parking lot adjacent to the Field House and West Gym. A storm drainage system, rearrangement of light poles, re-grading, curbing and all but the final coat of paving are included in that work which should wrap up before students arrive for the fall semester.

Residential Life:

A request for proposals (RFP) for new housing at a site between Hinman and College-in-the-Woods went out early July. The RFP outlines the scope of the project including number of beds, general size of the building or buildings, location, and required materials and equipment. Over the next few months, teams of architects and builders will review the RFP and present their proposals to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). It is hoped that a design/build team will be selected by late September.

Additional bonding will be secured when the state wraps up its budget and a second 275-bed building be added to the first phase of the project. Construction could begin late this fall. The campus will encourage the selected design/build team to complete one of the buildings by December 2002.

The environmental review process for the new housing site is also underway. Generally, this process takes a couple of months.

Clearview is currently being converted into student housing. The building had been occupied by the Institute of Child Development, which has moved to its new building located behind the East Gym on the University campus.

Work is underway to increase capacity at Hinman Dining Hall. Design work is in progress and the project could begin next spring or summer.

At College-in-the-Woods, all of the new steps have been poured. Pavers have been delivered and are being installed and some planting is underway.

New basketball courts at College-in-the-Woods and the Susquehanna Community will be installed soon.

Library:

The Library Renovation continues with interior finishes on the fourth floor. The bathrooms are being tiled and baseboards are being installed. Work on new mechanical equipment is also continuing.

Physical Facilities addition:

The concrete foundation will continue for much of the remainder of the summer. The steel frame should begin to go up in September.

Art Gallery:

Just getting underway is a project to expand the exhibition space in the Art Gallery. The project will add about 1,000 square feet to this space. An eight-foot wide balcony viewing area will be constructed at the upper level of the Gallery. This project will be completed in December.

Classroom/Lecture space:

Crews are plugging away on the renovation of the lecture hall and six classrooms in the Engineering Building. The classroom upgrades include the installation of data connections for laptop computers, multimedia podiums, data projectors, new lighting, ceilings and new tablet arm chairs.

Laboratory and office space is also being prepared for new faculty and staff hires at sites across campus.

For more information about the current construction and renovation projects, contact Karen Fennie, Communications Specialist, Physical Facilities at 777-2692 or via e-mail at kfennie@binghamton.edu

Visit http://facilities.binghamton.edu

- 30 -