Twelve construction projects will occur over the summer before the fall 2017 semester, including continuing renovations of Bailey Library, which began on April 19.
Another project includes the safety management renovations in Strain Behavioral Science Building, which will start after the final design documents are approved this month.
Kraus Hall will be demolished in the upcoming months to as well. Amir Mohammadi, vice president of finance and administration, said the space will likely be used as an additional parking lot.
A new air conditioning system is also to be installed into Boozel Dining Hall during the midst of all of the construction occurring on campus.
Some science labs are also set to be redesigned by engineers in the near future. The SRU campus water tower will be refurbished in the coming months, upon pre-bidding which was scheduled for April 19. The Dock attached to Swope Music Hall will be replaced and there will be accessibility improvements to the Gail Rose Lodge, with the project currently underway and continuing into the summer. Along with that, there will also be accessibility improvements to the Egli Field.
The Spotts World Culture Building is going to be approaching its second phase of reconstruction over the summer, where phase two will finalize the mechanical system and maintenance not addressed during the first phase of the construction process.
Lastly, the Weisenfluh elevator is to be replaced once the design is reviewed and approved.
Mohammadi said that the construction is expected to be done by the end of summer, but there are some challenges that could interfere with that goal.
“These projects are very extensive, but we have a talented team that meets weekly to ensure that before students return in the fall that we have completed all of the projects,” Mohammadi said.
The total cost of these projects has not yet been released, but Mohammadi said that information should be available in September, once the summer is over and the fall semester starts. All of these projects are based on bids, and all of the bids have gone out already. Mohammadi said that it is a very competitive process for everyone involved in helping out with these summer construction projects.
Mohammadi said that ultimately these construction projects will vastly improve SRU.
“We want to be the best university in the region where we will be the first choice as a college not only in programs but also in aesthetics of the buildings and the enhanced natural beauty of the SRU campus, which is a treasure,” Mohammadi said.
