Campus is Changing as Renovations Underway
By Broadside Correspondent Lana Sieg
Construction is a hassle that ultimately results in the new and improved. The university is in the process of constructing several new buildings across campus and renovating existing ones.
One of the major projects that is near completion is the Northeast Sector Development. The development is estimated to be about $75 million and is the university’s priciest and largest construction project ever.
Some of the features the Northeast Sector Development has to offer is five multistory residence buildings, holding up to 1,030 beds, a dining facility seating over 500 and a fitness center with cardio and weight rooms and an indoor basketball court.
The development also includes retail operations, such as a convenience store, a coffee house and restaurants. Southside opened on October 6, completing the main portion of the Northeast Sector Development project. The Northeast parking area is currently under construction.
Nancy Pickens, who is the registered architect and project manager for many of these developments across campus including Northeast Sector Development, said another major project underway is the Performing Arts Building duct bank Relocation. Included in the expansion will be two dance studios, band rehearsal halls, percussion rehearsal halls, wellness and conditioning suite, dance locker rooms and support spaces.
“There is an existing telecommunications infrastructure in the footprint of the new addition which needs to be relocated. A new telecommunications duct bank is currently being constructed between the Performing Arts Building and the Johnson Center and is due to be completed in early December 2008,” said Pickens.
Pickens explained that the new telecommunications infrastructure would be installed during the winter break, which will minimize outages on the campus community. However in the spring when the actual construction of the Performing Arts Building begins, students may face some issues when walking to class.
“The extent of the work is located the length of the middle sidewalk between the Performing Arts Building and the Johnson Center, close to the plaza,” said Pickens. “Sidewalk closures in the area will impact pedestrian traffic and will change almost weekly. [Mason’s] Facilities department is working with the Office of Equity and Diversity Services to minimize impacts to people with disabilities on campus.”
There are also many other buildings across campus anticipating renovations in the near future, such as Student Union Building I and II and the Patriot Center. Thompson Hall, constructed in 1971, is also looking at renovation beginning in December 2009. There will be a significant improvement in audio, visual and computer systems in the building, which is something Thompson Hall has been lacking over the past decades.
Many students on campus have mixed feelings about the construction process across campus because of the effects that it has on them and the positive outlook for the campus’ appearance for the future.
“The construction has only really affected me at the Fine Arts Building. The only thing that I have noticed is all the dirt, which isn’t really a problem,” said senior Gena Fortune. “As far as looking forward to it, even though I won’t be at Mason next semester, I think the campus will be amazing and fresh. Something to make the students even more excited to be at such a great, developing university.”
Other students do not feel quite the same excitement about the construction.
“The noise of the construction is annoying sometimes because we can hear it during my music class because we’re right near the door going outside in the Performing Arts Building,” said senior Jennifer Green. “Also I do think that closing off that area is inconvenient, especially for people who park in K and walk up through that area.”