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14 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2002
Kansas Union renovations delayed
By Jay Pilgreen Kansan staff writer
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The completion date for the Kansas Union renovations has been pushed back from the first day of fall classes to January 24, but services for students will be up and running before fall classes.
Pat Beard, director of building services for the Kansas and Burge Unions, is confident the areas students use most will be finished by August.
"We have had an emphasis all along on getting the level-one recreational area, Jaybowl and the Hawk's Nest, and the level-two Bookstore completed prior to freshman fall enrollment," Beard said. "That's on schedule."
Along with level-one and two construction, Beard said the completed design would include a new entry on the west end of the building and changes to the central stairwell, the west stairwell, the Organization and Leadership offices and the internal signage in the building.
Beard said the delays were due to change orders by the construction companies, which were common in large projects.
"It has continually slipped a tad here and there, but that's not unusual," Beard said. "Especially with a project like this one that has not only new construction, but also renovation and tying a new structure into an existing structure."
Delays have increased costs, but reductions have kept the project close to budget. Beard said the project was $16,000 over planned costs. He also said there was a contingency fund of $152,000 set up at the beginning of the project to cover change order costs.
Beard said the January date of completion allowed for more change orders, and the project might be finished as early as late November. Overall, Beard said the major inconvenience to the students was over.
"That was the onset of the project, when we were doing the demolition," Beard said.
Claire Zeigler, Student Senate communications director, said the renovation was distracting but necessary.
"It's hard to be productive living out of boxes," Zeigler said, "but keeping in mind they're renovating our office and they're giving more space for the Organization and Leadership Offices, it's definitely worth it."
Beard said the amount of traffic in the building had gone down 20 percent from the previous year, but that sales were still up in all areas.
"Even though some folks are staying away from us, they still know we're here, we're open and we're providing service," Beard said.
Contact Pil绿 at jpilgreen@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jason Royer
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Workers from McPherson Construction Inc. build a walkway between the parking garage and the Kansas Union. The union renovations are behind schedule because of changes in the construction plans. Officials plan to have the work completed by January 2003.