The Spotts World Culture Building has gone under some new renovations which added more study space and replaced outdated areas of the building.
Along with the new study spaces located throughout the building, areas of the building were modernized to comply with ADA standards. Scott Albert, assistant vice president of facilities and planning, said the renovations are split into two separate phases of construction. Phase one’s project rebuilt the south wall, replaced all of the windows, replaced HVAC units in all rooms except the auditorium, replaced lighting, renovated offices and bathrooms and renovated some classrooms, Albert said. The project also moved offices from the first floor up to the second and third floor, so the first floor could be all classrooms, Albert said.
Phase two will replace the chillers which provide air conditioning to the majority of the building, replace canopies, replace the auditorium air unit, replace the steam line feed to the building and replace the steam pressure reducing station in the basement of the building, Albert said.
The renovations for phase one cost approximately $5.2 million, and phase two will cost approximately $1 million, Albert said.
Construction on the building began in May 2016 and was completed in December 2016 while students were on winter break, Albert said. Albert discussed how phase two’s construction will not begin until this summer, and will be completed in 2017 or 2018.
“Lead time on components will determine the completion date, as there are certain windows of time when the work can be completed,” Albert said. “If we can’t finish in that window, then the work has to be delayed to the next available window of time.”
Albert discussed the many new renovations to the building and how they will be beneficial to both faculty and students. The study rooms located around the building will help for a number of reasons, Albert said.
“All students taking classes in Spotts have access to these spaces, so they do not have to hang out in the hallways between classes,” Albert said. “These study spaces provide also provide small group meeting space for the faculty to meet with their students. The College of Liberal Arts was able to bring all of the departments in one building, except for theater and dance. This makes it easier for them to collaborate on new initiatives.”
Albert hopes students enjoy the renovations and will put them to good use in the spring semester and future.
“I believe the renovations in Spotts has created a better learning environment for our students, which was one of the driving reasons behind completing this project,” Albert said. “My hope is the students feel the same way.”
