THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 2007.
NEWS
3A
> CONSTRUCTION
Campus faces future changes
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Projects quieter more convenient
Further construction begins in Wescoe January 2008. Legislators allotted $38 million this year to the six state universities for deferred maintenance.
BY COURTNEY CONDRON
ccondron@kansan.com
University Design and Construction Management is developing initial design plans for three construction projects set to begin later this year at Wescoe Hall, Haworth Hall and the underground utility tunnels.
The projects are part of a $38 million legislation signed into law this year for deferred maintenance at the six state universities. The University of Kansas has developed a five-year plan for these projects, totalling $9,951,000. The first year of construction was approved in August, and University officials have since been working with architectural companies on designs. University of Kansas Medical Center will also begin nine projects totalling $3,634,500.
Mark Reiske, associate director of Design and Construction Management, said that the order these projects are being completed coincided with the list of priorities the University gave to the state.
"We are now trying to move back down that list little by little," Reiske said.
After completing the terrace infill in Wescoe this summer, new construction on the first floor will
start in January and is set to be completed in August 2008. Steven Scannell, assistant director of design and construction management and project manager for the Wescoe construction, said there will be 11 or 12 classrooms added with enhanced media capabilities and new offices for the department of classics.
"Before, that area was just a terrible, depressing environment for faculty and students," Scannell said. "It's going to look like a whole new building in that area, with windows to get some outside lighting and larger rooms with better equipment."
Construction on the third floor of Wescoe is planned for the summer and fall of 2008. The second floor will be worked on during the spring and summer of 2009. All professors with offices on these floors will be moved before construction, but Scannell said they hope to only move people for less than a year. In this area they will be replacing duct work, to help the heating and cooling, and will be replacing mechanical equipment with energy efficient equipment.
"It will improve the indoor air quality and comfort level of these floors." Scannell said.
that the construction would affect students since classrooms on the fourth floor would remain in operation. He also said they would try to do noisier work during the evening.
Scannell said he didn't think
Callie Coco, a Downs junior,
said that she is getting a little tired
of the construction across campus.
"I think they need to finish one project before they start another," Coco said.
Reiske said the construction wouldn't interfere with classes as much as it did last year because workers wouldn't be directly under classrooms and lecture halls.
Stephen Evans, a lecturer in the department of English, will be one of the professors moved from his office before construction on the third floor.
"It has to be done. The building needs to be renovated and remodeled," Evans said. "It's something we have to suffer through to get to some good results."
In addition to construction at Wescoe, Reiske said he anticipated construction on the utility tunnels to begin during the spring, which would help the infrastructure of the University. This is a multi-year project and the most expensive of the three, costing $6 million. The campus has more than 16,000 feet
of tunnel underneath the ground that connects vital utility systems to about 50 buildings.
"If we have an old tunnel that has problems, then if something collapses, it would take down power, telecommunications and steam routes," Reiske said. "Students won't sit in a new room or see the benefits, but it's definitely important."
The University has the department of engineering working on plans for Haworth Hall and will be taking bids from construction companies after the first of the year. Haworth Hall will have about 20 chemical fume hoods replaced in research and biology labs, and will also have air handlers replaced.
"We will have more reliable, more maintainable air handlers, which will definitely benefit students." Reiske said.
According to the Board of Regents, the five-year maintenance plan would provide $90 million in funding from the state overall and could allow the state universities to cover approximately 38 percent of the total deferred maintenance at these universities.
"Right now construction has been very busy, and it doesn't look like it's slowing down," Reiske said.
Edited by Rachael Gray
》 ACTIVISM
Group pushes for alternative energy use
BY COURTNEY CONDRON
ccondron@kansan.com
The 2020 Vision campus group, which aims to reduce America's oil consumption, is tabling on Wescoe Beach this week in response to Sunflower Electric Power Corporation's controversial plan to build two new coal-based power plants at Holcomb Station in Holcomb, Kan.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is supposed to make a final decision on the project by the end of the month. If approved, the plants would bring jobs and money to the western Kansas town and provide power to several different states.
Quinton Cheney, Fort Scott senior and member of 2020 Vision, said, the group was worried about the amount of pollution the plants would release.
"We are pushing for it not to be built, but also
be careful but use more them to look at alternative energy methods such as wind power, because Holcomb is one of the windiest areas in the country," Cheney said.
The group, which is sitting at an information table from 10 a.m.
until 2 p.m. each day this week, is having students sign postcards that will be sent to Gov. Sebelius. Other universities, schools, businesses and organizations are also participating. As of Tuesday, the group already had between 150 and 200 postcards signed.
said he knew this was not a simple decision and that there are a lot of things to consider.
"We know this is a little something, but hopefully if Sebelius sees that this is what the people who she represents want, it will help," Ryan said.
Margaret Tran, Derby sophomore and president of 2020 Vision, said, this is not a local issue. If the plants are built, they will contribute to global warming.
However, some citizens of Holcomb, including Morgan Terry, a Holcomb senior, think the plants are a large step to the growing town.
"Not only is it providing power, but as the second plant is built it is providing jobs for people moving in," Terry said. "I think with everything it will have its positives and negatives, but those obstacles will be worked through as time goes by."
According to 2020 Vision, less than 15 percent of Sunflower's electricity would benefit Kansas, because most would go to other states. They also said that the coal-based plants would release 10 million tons of carbon dioxide and 11 million pounds
Rob Ryan, Kansas City. Kan.
senior and member of 2020 Vision.
"We're all Kansas residents, and so this affects all of us. In fact it affects the whole world because it would be a significant harm to the environment."
QUINTON CHENEY member of 2020 Vision
of sulfur dioxide each year.
mental community
In a press release, Sunflower Electric said it will pursue natural gas and renewable generation in response to concerns from the environ-
Cheney still feels that as long as the plants are built, they will be a large threat to the environment.
"We're all Kansas residents, and so this affects all of us," Cheney said. "In fact it affects the whole world, because it would be a significant harm to the environment."
The group will continue tabling today and the rest of the week for students who want to sign a postcard.
Edited by Ashlee Kieler
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
September 19,2007
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