Facility Enhancement Committee approves requests for several buildings
The Utah State University Facility Enhancement Committee met on Feb. 10 to discuss how to fund enhancement requests made with the allotted $200,000 budget.
The committee is composed of Executive VP Brooklyn Ward as chair, six USUSA senators, the USU Facilities Planning, Design, and Construction architect, USU classroom technology & media productions project coordinator and the USU Student Involvement and Leadership Center associate director. The $200,000 budget is directly funded by tuition.
NDFS Research Kitchen
Among the most notable enhancements requested is an update to the research kitchen in the C. Anthon Ernstrom Nutrition and Food Sciences building. In an email, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Senator Dantzel Miner wrote to The Utah Statesman, “I know an update in the NDFS Research Kitchen will benefit students by enhancing their learning environment and giving them more modern appliances that are used more often in the current industry.”
The research kitchen contains all of the equipment required for preparation and service for 50 individuals per day. The space includes a preparation area, dishroom, walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, dry storage, office, dining area and changing facilities for staff.
Equipment in the kitchen includes a 31 cubic foot refrigerator, microwaves, blenders, electronic balances, Cryovac, tray lidder, meat slicer, food processors, an induction cook-top, two combi-ovens, blast chiller/freezer, a twenty-quart mixer, dishwasher, dish dryer and an ice machine.
The request for the kitchen states the facility is outdated. Their specific request was to have the kitchen gutted and renovated with updated equipment and a new HVAC system. The estimated cost was determined to be $31,360.
“I’m most excited about increasing the sanitary practices and eliminating bugs or other contaminations caused by outdated structures. I think it is important because we should continue to practice what we preach. The students are learning about best practices in the Nutrition world but with these kitchens and outdated spaces we’re not always able to practice what is learned,” Miner wrote.
Caine College of the Arts Practice Rooms
Another sizable request included the addition of a Wenger practice room, estimated to cost approximately $77,479. This space would measure 13.2 by 13.2 feet and fit eight people instead of one. The new room would also feature full audio sound proofing and a new Steinway piano.
In an email, CCA Senator Lauren Tougas wrote to the Statesman, “The students of the Caine College of the Arts have been in desperate need of more practice/rehearsal space for a little while now and this new practice room will not only afford them a new location in which to effectively practice their respective instruments and hone their craft, but also a new venue in which multiple musicians can practice at once- a location for concert and recital rehearsals, which up to this point we have lacked.”
The request stated this room would enhance the rehearsal and practice capabilities of the college by accommodating both individual students and group rehearsals. It claimed the high-quality environment, superior acoustics and flexibility will offer an optimal setting that meets the needs of diverse performance disciplines for both practice and collaboration.
The Junction
Several requests concerning facilities at the Junction were considered this year, which were aimed at improving accessibility for customers.
The Junction is a dining hall on central campus that serves a large percentage of USU students daily. Requested improvements involve bike racks estimated to cost $500, accessible doors estimated to cost $8,300 and sidewalk repairs estimated to cost $4,000.
Facilities enhancement requests are completed by students, staff and faculty at USU. The fund aims to provide financial assistance to renovate, expand or upgrade safety for recreational, cultural, educational or other related public-use community facilities at USU. The purpose of this fund is to provide students with direct input into decision-making regarding facilities needs.
“We value the opportunity to show our students that their success is at the forefront of our minds and mission. We want them to feel as though they have every available opportunity afforded to them,” Tougas wrote.