Despite several rainy days, construction on the new university student center, which began at the end of March, is on schedule.
We're about 50 to 60 percent complete with deep foundations
said Bob Fredelake, project manager from Smoot Construction in Columbus. We have finished about 80 percent of the mass excavation. Rain has certainly affected us but not recently. The last two-and-a-half to three weeks have not been bad.
The center, which will retain the Baker University Center name, is designed to link the higher and lower portions of campus. It is being constructed near Oxbow Trail, and will be visible from Court Street. The five-floor structure will have an east wing and a west wing, which will be divided by an atrium.
The new university center is being constructed at the new center of campus said Richard Carpinelli, director of Baker University Center and assistant vice president for student affairs. So we really see it as the epicenter of activity on the campus for not only students
but for faculty
staff
visitors
guests of the university.
Since breaking ground this spring, construction workers have been working on foundation and relocating site utilities, said John Kotowski, assistant vice president for facilities planning.
We're working the site from east to west
building walls and putting concrete foundation pieces on the east end of the building
he said. Progress has been good.
The $60 million structure will be ready to use in January 2007, which is also when a quarterly student fee of $60 will begin. The fee will constitute $40 million and state capital funds will supply $20 million.
The center, which will stretch about 183,000 square feet, will have about 20,000 to 25,000 people moving through it each day, Carpinelli said. Entrances will be on the first and fourth floors.
The first floor of the center will have a marketplace where students will be able to use Bobcat cash at eight food stations, a computer learning lab, lounge space and a billiards area.
The second floor is the main conference and meeting area, and will include the Cultural Center and the Multicultural Programs Office, as well as a 225-seat theater for events such as Student Senate debates and movie nights.
On the third floor will be administrative and student organization offices, including the student affairs office, the dean of students office, the Residence Life central office, University Judiciaries, the LGBT office, Student Senate offices and Greek governing offices. Also on the third floor will be a student media center, where campus media, such as The Post, ACRN, Athens Videoworks and the Athena Yearbook, will be located.
The fourth floor will be an entry rotunda, an information desk, postal services, ID services, a spirit shop and an academic support center. There also will be a grand ballroom, which will be 8,300 square feet, compared to the current Baker ballroom, which is about 4,000 square feet. The Front Room will also be located on the fourth floor.
The fifth floor will have the career services office, which will have 10 interview rooms for students and potential employers to meet in.
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