This past summer saw numerous renovations done to SRU’s campus, with 43 projects being tackled for the 2017-18 school year.
Amir Mohammadi, vice president of finance administration and advancement, oversees the completion of these projects.
“We have been working really hard to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning here at Slippery Rock,” Mohammadi said. “Just about every part of campus has been affected this summer with our new conservation goals.”
About six million dollars was spent this summer on projects such as the renovations at Kraus Hall, Advanced Technology and Science Hall, Bailey Library and Swope Music Hall. Over the course of the 2017-18 school year, $55 million will go towards improving Slippery Rock’s campus as a whole. Mohammadi’s excitement over the progress that has been made in recent years is shared by his colleague, Scott Albert, who serves as assistant vice president of facilities, planning, and environmental safety.
“I am absolutely enthusiastic about what we have accomplished in recent years,” Albert said. “Since Dr. Mohammadi joined our staff around three years ago, there has been a noticeable improvement with which these projects are completed around campus.”
The renovations at East/West Gym and the McKay Education building are currently still up for bid, with the estimated completion time for these projects being early 2019. Aside from these two larger and more expensive renovations (the East/West Gym renovations are expected to cost around $24 million alone) all remaining projects will be finished by the summer of 2018. Many projects are nearing completion and will likely be finished by the end of August. These projects include renovations to the second and third floors of Rhoads Hall, Kraus Hall, accessibility improvements to the Gail Rose Lodge, and electrical upgrades to Weisenfluh Dining Hall.
Renovations to Bailey Library began in April of 2017 and are currently still in progress. The project sees major renovations to the first and second floors, with Phase One recently being completed and Phase Two currently underway. This is according to a report released jointly by the offices of Design, Construction and Maintenance and Facilities, Planning and Environmental Safety. The final renovations are expected to be finished in December of 2017.
Both Mohammadi and Albert praised one another for the hard work they put in to achieve their goals of improving SRU’s campus. Mohammadi offered his highest praise for his team that makes it all happen.
“We have a great team that is dedicated to delivering quality work each day,” Mohammadi said. “They care about making this campus better for students and staff alike, and that’s a remarkable thing.”
