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NEWS
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Campus construction on schedule despite recent rain
The Oswald and Self residence halls on Daisy Hill are scheduled to be completed on time by the end of July. Of the several construction projects occurring on campus, all are on schedule except for McCarthy Hall.
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
DEREK SKILLETT/KANSAN
Despite the heavy rainfall last month, construction on campus is mostly continuing on schedule.
These projects include Phase III of the Jayhawk Boulevard reconstruction, construction of the new Oswald and Self residence halls on Daisy Hill, construction of the DeBrue Center adjoining Allen Fieldhouse, the construction of the new Capitol Federal Hall and the construction of the new McCarthy student athlete residence hall.
["The rain]s had some effect. At times, it's made those sites mud-dier and so the contractors have had to work a little harder to try not to track all the mud onto the street," said Paul Graves, deputy director of Design and Construction Management at the University. "To my knowledge, the weather has not seriously been a factor in delaying any of the projects."
The primary construction project happening on the University campus right now centers on the reconstruction of Jayhawk Boulevard, specifically the section stretching from Watson Library to the Kansas Union. Graves said contractors are working to widen the boulevard, repair the sidewalks and plant trees on both sides of the street.
This phase of the complete reconstruction will cost around $3.5 million and is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Graves said the numerous other construction projects taking place around the University are also relatively unaffected by the summer weather.
The DeBruce Center, which will be located near the parking garage connected to Allen Fieldhouse, will house James Naismith's original rules of basketball. The construction has dominated the northeast corner of the Fieldhouse since it began in
2013. Luckily for Kansas basketball fans, the construction is still slated to be completed by January of 2016, just in time for Big 12 conference play.
Across the street from the DeBruce Center, construction on the new Capitol Federal Hall is underway without delay. The $65 million project, which will be completed in spring 2016, will house a majority of the University's business classes.
McCarthy Hall, the third major University construction project currently being built on Naismith Drive, will primarily house the members of
the men's and women's basketball teams. However, the construction project is slightly behind schedule.
"McCarthy Hall is a bit behind schedule. The contractor is working to get back on schedule," Graves said. "I'm not sure I know exactly why. There have been some challenges that they've run into, but I can't go into any more detail than that."
McCarthy Hall, as well as the new Self and Oswald Halls on Daisy Hill, are expected to be completed by the end of July, in time for the new school year.