While its students are home for the summer, Binghamton University is pursuing several major campus construction projects as part of a five-year, $550 million capital plan that runs through 2013.

The Central Campus Quad Project is in progress and is slated to be completed by November 2012. The $3.7 million plan includes updating the landscape of the area of the Lois B. DeFleur Walkway outside Glenn G. Bartle library as well as replacing the existing fountain with a newer model one. The old fountain covered a water line that needed repairs.

The project also includes renovating the south portion of Lecture Hall and adding a 750-square-foot glass-enclosed seating area in the library courtyard to allow for extra accommodation near Jazzman’s Café in the Library Tower.

Karen Fennie, spokeswoman for Physical Facilities, said she believes that the Central Campus Quad Project will improve the appearance of the fountain area and that the addition to Bartle Library will be popular among students.

Fennie said she was encouraged by the student response to the Jazzman’s renovation and additional seating in the library corridor.

“Even in the summer, I see those booths filled,” she said.

The construction plans also include a renovation of the Chenango Room with the addition of an Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant, slated for completion by the fall 2012 semester. This project, funded by Sodexo, will cost $3 million.

Physical Facilities will also be working this summer to replace 3,200 feet of the campus water line. This $4.3 million project, according to Fennie, is made necessary by water line breaks in recent years due to the age of the old line.

In July, workers will tear down the old Newing buildings to make way for four new Dickinson buildings as the next step in completing the $350 million East Campus Housing Project.

“Work on the Central Campus Quad, the Chenango Room renovation and the Library Plaza deck addition will still be underway when students return,” Fennie said. “A big change will be the remaining old Newing buildings will no longer be there, and the final portion of the East Campus Housing project will be underway.”

Additional projects meant to ensure campus safety include upgrading the elevators on campus, renovating the heating and air conditioning system in the Tuscarora Office Building in College-in-the-Woods and adding air conditioning to the North Wing of the Fine Arts Building.

“Other benefits [students] don’t see, but are very important,” Fennie said. “Replacing out old water lines, upgrading electrical service and elevators … This is all part of the University’s infrastructure, and it is important to keep it in good repair and working order so the campus runs smoothly.”

Other plans exist to replace the Health Services’ South Pedestrian Bridge, add additional parking spaces near the library and repair the Fine Arts Building’s Memorial Courtyard and the walkway near the Academic Complex.

According to Fennie, the $550 million used to finance these projects under the five-year capital plan is not subject to budget cuts.

“The state legislature and governor with input from SUNY central and the State University Construction Fund, determine the [five-year] capital plans for the SUNY system,” she said. “There are always many more projects that are needed than are funded.”

According to Fennie, Physical Facilities does most of its large construction projects over the summer because of convenience.

“Many of the bigger projects launch after Commencement,” she explained. “One reason for this is that the campus population is less at this time, so we are disrupting fewer people.”

Still, she said, summer is too short of a window to complete many projects, and the campus at this time is still full of activity.

“Students that are not here in the summer may not realize the campus is still pretty busy with orientation, summer sessions, camps and other events,” she said. “We have to work around it all as best we can.”

Students spending their summer at BU, like Helaine Firestein, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, feel surrounded by the construction.

“I’m an orientation adviser this summer, so when I saw that the fountain was gone, the ground outside of the library was broken up and entrances to half of the lecture halls were blocked, I was upset that the incoming students are going to get such an unappealing first impression of Binghamton,” Firestein said. “In addition, all of the detours make getting to the Science Buildings even more difficult than it usually is.”

Still, she said, she is confident that come fall, it will all be worth it.

“Although BU isn’t exactly beautiful with all of the construction, it will just make it that much better when the freshmen and returning students come back for the start of the school year and see the improvements that have been made,” Firestein said.