WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN =13
CONSTRUCTION
Campus improvements ideal during summer
By Ehren Meditz emeditz@kansan.com Kansan staff reporter
Closed-off areas, dumpsters packed with garbage and bright orange construction signs greeted this year's summer class.
Summer construction projects range from installing blue carpeting on the third floor of Watson Library, to updating the University of Kansas' tunnel and pipe systems for $2 million.
Mike Miller, assistant director of facilities operations, said that he needed to consult a clipboard when recalling the large number of projects.
"I've got so many, I don't even know without looking at it anymore," he said. "We're pretty loaded on the facilities side."
Miller said he expected that between 20 and 25 projects would be completed during the summer semester. He added that many projects began the day after commencement on May 19.
With the lower number of students on campus, reduced traffic and sunny weather, summer is the ideal time for campus construction and repairs, said Jim Long, vice provost of facilities planning and management.
"It's a time at which we can cause the least amount of inconvenience to the members of the campus community," Long said.
Miller said projects such as construction on the Malott Hall library stacks area and the sixth floor of Dyche Hall
Summer construction projects range from installing blue carpeting on the third floor of Watson Library to updating the University of Kansas' tunnel and pipe systems for $2 million.
that began in the spring should also be completed before the fall. Students can also look forward to remodeled classrooms in Wescoe, Blake, Flint and Snow Halls, as well as completion of changes at the bookstore in the Kansas Union.
Despite its benefits, the construction creates an inconvenience for some students.
Victor Vaca, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, sophomore, said last month's Watson Library construction was problematic.
"It was weird; everything was weird," Vaca said. "So I left."
However, as the construction nears completion, he approves of the changes.
"The carpet is nice. I think it looks a lot cooler," Vaca said.
Luke Middleton, a researcher at the Policy Research Institute on the sixth floor of Blake Hall, was not as enthused with his newly tinted windows.
"We had a great view," he said. "But then they went and made it darker."
- Edited by Amy Kelly
Zach Straus/Kansan
Maia Lee, Lawrence junior, pauses in the midst of a construction zone in front of the Kansas Union. The construction, intended to repair broken water pipes, is part of a $2 million plan for summer renovations and repairs.
CONSTRUCTION
Natural history museum upgrading, expanding
By Maggie Newcomer
mnewcomer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Natural History Museum is getting a facelift. With exterior powerwashing, fire safety code upgrades and an informatics lab expansion, full-body make-over might be a better term.
In honor of the museum's 100th anniversary, exterior stones and windows will be repaired and powerwashed. The KU Biodiversity Informatics Lab is being
expanded, thanks to a $250,000 pledge from the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Charitable Foundation. The museum is also required by law to upgrade its fire safety equipment.
Jordan Yochim, assistant director of the museum, said Dyche Hall, where the museum is located, had been undergoing different renovations for more than eight years.
"They'll probably go on for another million years," Yochim said.
Yochim said because of the building's size and age, projects like these took a long time.
Brad Kemp, assistant director of public affairs at the museum, said all the projects had different schedules and he was unsure when they would be complete.
Kemp said the most dramatic change that visitors would notice will be the remodeling of the gift shop and the entrance to the panorama on the main floor.
"The gift shop used to be a country store theme," Kemp said. "It will be slicker and more modern."
Kemp said the gift shop would connect to the visitor services office. A plasma
In compliance with fire safety codes, a second fire escape,fire protected corridors and more sprinklers will also be added.The state funded the fire safety improvements.
screen will be added at the panorama's entrance to explain the exhibit.
The informatics lab expansion will double the lab space and provide new offices for researchers.
Kemp said he expected the lab to be finished by the fall.
—Edited by Jennifer Wellington
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