Summer campus projects give new look

trevor.kenney — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:26:01 +0000

As another academic year gets underway, new and returning students, staff and faculty will see some significant changes to the U of L's physical campus.

The Department of Facilities and its Project Management Office have been working diligently to create and renovate a variety of new and improved spaces.

This past summer was one of the largest building seasons the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has ever seen – about $30 million worth – making our campus the busiest building site south of Calgary. While construction crews have been working around the clock and most projects are near completion, not all are finished.

The new quad area north of Markin Hall promises to give the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ another parkland setting, complete with rolling hills and well-lit walking paths.

The Facilities department appreciates everyone's patience as crews wrap up the remaining construction, and ask that all posted signs be obeyed to ensure everyone's safety.

The second and final phase of the mechanical upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts should be done by early September. A typical break-in period of new equipment is expected to follow. The project will not only improve air quality but also create a more energy efficient building operation.

Several areas of the PE Building are also wrapping up construction, including the finishing touches on the south plaza entrance as well as the indoor PE staircase, both of which should be open by October.

The newly renovated day-use change rooms in the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre should also be operational by early October. The nearby underground Physical Education Tunnel re-opened just prior to the first day of classes.

The new sports medicine clinic in PE100, the area below the south end of the running track, is on schedule to open by the end of September. Once complete, the clinic will feature physiotherapy and exam rooms, treatment areas and doctor's offices.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Quad north of Markin Hall, featuring a core open space surrounded by small rolling hills, well-lit sidewalks and landscaping should be ready for use by October.

The final details of the parking lot redevelopment will also conclude later this month. The lots have been redesigned to offer more practical parking and improve pedestrian safety. Phase 2 of the parking lot project will get underway in spring 2013.

Perhaps the biggest project on campus, the ongoing construction of the 259-bed Aperture Park residence is on schedule and set to open July 2013.

Off campus, the downtown Penny Building will undergo renovations starting mid-September.

Details on these projects can be found at www.uleth.ca/facilities.

For more information on any of these projects, contact Brian Sullivan at 403-329-2592.

This story first appeared in the September 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Campus promises to be full of activity over summer

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:11:28 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Facilities Department is gearing up for another productive construction season this summer.

Redevelopment of the campus's western parking lots is set to begin in a few weeks, beginning with the creation of a new entranceway at the northwest corner of Lot E.

This is just the beginning of the project that will give a facelift to Lots E, F, FS and G along Anderson Hall and the 1st Choice Savings Centre. The result will be more practical parking and the addition of environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscaping.

The revamped design of the parking lots includes bio swales (drainage) and windbreaks, along with improved lighting, security and safety measures for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The design also addresses storm water management and drainage issues to prevent occurrences such as the flooding that took place in July 2008 at the Wellness Centre.

The $2.5 million project will be completed over the summer. Parking access will be provided away from construction while the project is underway.

Construction is ahead of schedule on the new residence structure.

Construction of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Quad just north of Markin Hall is also on the summer construction agenda. The public greenspace will feature small rolling hills, plants, water gardens, benches, connecting sidewalks, and other amenities. The project should be completed this fall.

In early May, the start of construction for a new Sports Medicine Clinic in the Wellness Centre PE100 will begin. The clinic will house four physicians and related support services with space for physiotherapy, exam rooms, a treatment area and offices for doctors and administrative staff. The project should be finished by the end of August.

Upgrading to the existing mechanical and electrical systems in the centre core of the Wellness Centre will take place from May to September. Construction will work around events such as Spring Convocation and the Alberta Summer Games to avoid any disruption of these activities. Renovations of Levels 0, 1 and 2, including the southeast entrance to the Wellness Centre will also take place at this time.

While under repair, the Physical Education Tunnel will be closed from June 4 until late September.

Meanwhile, the third phase of the Aperture Park housing facility is proceeding ahead of schedule. Concrete work is expected to be completed by late fall with the building scheduled to open in July 2013.

Other planned summer projects include replacing weeping tile along the Breezeway, upgrading the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, and compartmentalizing firewalls and upgrading the fire alarm system in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.

UNews - Physical Education Tunnel

Summer campus projects give new look

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