The Undercurrent

Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Sarah Maslonka The final stretch - Despite the many obstacles that have been faced in the construction of the Social Science and Art Hall, along with the 3-D Art Hall, the buildings are still on track to open at the primary proposed date of July 1. Students can expect to be able to make use of the buildings by next fall after they undergo additional work this summer.

Throughout the year, the BVU campus has taken notice of the progressive development of different projects of campus. Now, as the year comes to a close, it is apparent that the construction of the new Social Science and Art Hall (SS&A) and the 3-D Art Hall is coming to a close as well.

The original proposed opening date for the new buildings was July 1, and the current progression of this project suggests this date is still appropriate. The target goal at this point in time is to have all the clean- up take place by then.

Due to minor project obstacles, such as a delay in the carpet delivery, the building is still ready to be opened on July 1 but the technological projects will not be ready.

Once the contractors are finished on May 16, some of the finer clean -up projects to happen during June are the installation of the final plumbing, heating and cooling systems and the electrical work.

"For the most part, we're still on target to reach all of our goals, we just have to push it within the next couple of weeks," Keith Schmidt, director of facilities management, said.

The 3-D Art Hall will probably be completed in early June, and the campus facility's hope is to have all the furniture moved into the building by that time. Construction and other projects are moving well and on schedule.

"As soon as students leave for graduation we'll be moving things in, and once students get back both buildings will be open and operating," Schmidt said.

There is also landscape work to do around the buildings over the summer. The evident weather conditions of the prolonged spring season makes these landscaping projects an expected obstacle.

The building process of the SS&A and 3-D Art Hall went relatively well, but the weather provided major setbacks for the developments of various projects.

"The winter, especially the month of January and into early February, was so cold that we were unable to even pour concrete inside. This was a big setback in the 3-D building because you have to go off of that," Schmidt said.

The biggest setback on not only the SS&A and 3-D Art Hall, but all the projects on campus, is the small community. Multiple projects are being worked on at the same time, and weather delays push back not just one project, but all of them.

"Any construction project has some unknowns, and this job is no exception. You just anticipate some of those," Schmidt said.

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