A $1.3 million Social Sciences building overhaul. Pool and steam plant upgrades. A fireplace and a local foods kiosk at Reamer.
These are among the many makeovers, big and small, visible and not-so-visible, that greet students, faculty and staff this week as the new academic year gets under way. All will add to the quality of life at Union.
With classrooms and residence halls vacated these past few months, the crews in facilities were hard at work renovating and upgrading from one end of campus to the other.
The biggest and most challenging project was the overhaul of the Social Sciences basement, which had not been renovated since it was built in 1964.
“A complete renovation is an extremely ambitious project for the 10 short weeks we had to complete it, but we now have a bright and well-ventilated space,” said Director of Facilities and Planning Loren T. Rucinski. Due to a lack of “swing space,” or alternative classroom locations on campus, he noted, the contractor and design team worked double shifts to ensure a summer completion.
The project included removing asbestos; demolishing and removing all hard plaster surfaces; removing all mechanical systems, ducting, and lighting; moisture proofing the floors; installing all new mechanical systems and lighting; creating two new electronic classrooms; installing all new finishes and equipment in the existing classrooms, and installing new furnishings in all rooms in the basement.
At Reamer, part of the fourth floor was converted into a new student-focused Media Wing housing WRUC, TVUC, and offices for the Yearbook and Concordiensis. Their space on the third floor was reallocated and remodeled to create a central Minerva Office with room to hold small meetings and informal gatherings. Student Support Services moves next door to the former Minerva space.
The addition of a fireplace across from Dutch Hollow comes courtesy of the Class of 2007. A local food kiosk that complements the popular Ozone Café also has been added.
Off campus, the Facilities crew remodeled the second floor of 712 Roger Hull Place at the corner of Seward Place to create four singles as a sustainable apartment that underscores the College’s environmental commitment. The new “Eco House” is powered by photo-voltaic solar panels, energy smart appliances, water- and electricity-saving devices and “green” furniture.
Additional summer work included:
— Cleaning, tile repair and re-grouting the Alumni Gym pool
— Replacing steam lines connecting the Alumni Gym and Reamer to the steam plant
— Replacing a chilled water line from the Chiller Plant to the entry road by Reamer
— Creating faculty offices on the second floor of F.W. Olin Center; additional office space in Silliman Hall and Steinmetz, and office/lab space in Bailey Hall
— Installing a new fire safety system in Richmond Hall and performing general repairs and miscellaneous upgrades in all residences.