Binghamton University officials have come up with some solutions to accommodate students in the fall as campus undergoes a facelift — including two major construction projects and a few smaller jobs.
After commencement in May, the beginning phases of the University Union renovations began, including the removal of equipment from the Old University Union into storage. Workers are now onto asbestos removal, which will continue into the fall.
Students can also expect to see more of the “shell” of the first building of the East Campus renovation, the project set to rebuild both Newing and Dickinson Colleges, according to Karen Fennie, spokeswoman for Physical Facilities.
“If you looked at the project right now, you’d see that they have all the excavation done and they’re starting on the foundation,” she said.
Following the asbestos removal phase of the University Union renovations, the actual rebuilding will begin, including the installation of new walls, floors, ceilings and lighting, Fennie said.
The revamping of the Old University Union, which is set to be completed in August of 2009, includes renovations to the Tillman Lobby, the Mandela Room, the Old Union Hall, University Union room 133, as well as other meeting areas. The project also includes plans for a new waiting area for buses and additional “multi-purpose” rooms, according to Physical Facilities’ Web site.
Students expressed concern and opposition to the plans in the 2007-08 academic year at a number of town hall meetings with administrators. One topic of debate was the lack of programming space available for the upcoming year when the Old Union is moved offline.
The University Union Event Relocation Committee was established in the fall semester of last year and given the task of determining alternative space options. The committee was made up of representatives from different administrative divisions and one student representative, last year’s Student Assembly Executive Vice President Joe Danko.
“We have a number of items we’ll be moving forward with,” said Associate Vice President of Administrative Services JoAnn Navarro, who added that the items were based off the committee’s recommendations.
Starting Aug. 15, the Susquehanna Room will be closed for dining and used as extra programming space.
To compensate for the loss of a dining area, Dickinson Dining Hall will hold an additional 40 to 50 chairs. Likewise, officials are planning to install another food kiosk offering breakfast and light lunch, “Caf√É.√© a la Carte,” in the Glenn G. Bartle Library, but the exact location is yet to be determined because the project is still in the works.
The concept of the Chenango Room will also be altered to include an expanded buffet area and a larger menu, Navarro said.
To further combat the space problem, University officials have added additional spaces to Resource 25, the primary scheduling system used to coordinate activities on campus, including Casadesus Hall in the Fine Arts Building and the option of some dining halls — depending on decisions from community leaders, according to Events Center Director Eric Backlund.