Campus construction continues
Construction benefiting students is ongoing for Utah State University.
Darrell Hart, assistant vice president of Facilities, said last year’s construction, which ran up the main stretch of campus making new tunnels for the heating plant, is now complete. The landscaping is underway and should be complete this fall.
“There are several benefits students get out of this project,” Hart said.
New lighting was put in to increase security on campus, the new sidewalk allows better access for emergency vehicles, and the new tunnels make way for utility workers to do maintenance work.
“[The old heating plant] was well past its useable life,” Hart said.
The old plant used coal for a fuel source. The new heating plant is run by natural gas, which has reduced pollution by eight times, Hart said. New equipment has replaced old, which will make the plant much more reliable.
Sophomore Jamie Fisher said, “It’s been really long, but the improvements have been good.”
Hart said, “We are in much better condition than last year. The overall construction project was scheduled to take two complete construction seasons, or two years, but was accomplished in a little over one year.”
Construction on the west side of Merrill Library is to replace the concrete damaged while it was used as a haul road for the heating plant project. The concrete work will be done this fall and landscaping this spring, Hart said.
Junior Shannon Bos said, “The construction is really frustrating at times. You could be walking to class and not know that the sidewalk is closed until you reach the fence that says ‘sidewalk closed.’ I would like to know ahead of time, so I can take a detour and not be late for class.”
Another construction project is taking place at the Edith Bowen Laboratory School. Hart said this project has two phases. One began this summer, and the other begins fall of 2003. The elementary school will eventually be a two-story building.
Construction around the school has been fenced off so no students can enter the site.
The third major project which began this summer is on the Engineering Laboratory Building. This project should be completed by next summer, Hart said. Long-term renovation is also planned for the Engineering Building. In a few years, it will be torn down, Hart said.
A final, major project in the making is the replacement of the Merrill Library.
“We have received money from the Legislature to program and begin the design of the new library,” Hart said.
The new library will be on the north side of the Science and Technology Library. The two will join to function as one library, he said.
Sophomore Brigit Farfel said, “Why waste money on a new library when the Merrill Library works just fine? I think the school should spend money elsewhere, or maybe renovate the Merrill Library so it’s not so expensive.”
Hart said, “Merrill Library has a lot of things done to make it more useful. But the library is a fire hazard, which the fire marshall calls a ‘nice chimney.’ It is too dangerous, and the multiple entrances make security very difficult.”
Facilities considered renovating the library, but its core systems, mechanical and electrical, are worn out. It does not have adequate alarm systems or fire protection, Hart said.
Students need to be more aware of the construction, he said. The main danger to students is the contractor’s equipment moving in and out of construction sites.