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Anthropology Professor Presents First 1999-2000 Distinguished Lecture |
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Campus Repairs, Renovations, Underway |
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Fidelity Executive Discusses Business Ethics with MBA Students |
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Because some of us seem frequently to be caught up in a blizzard of memos, the most important and interesting news can sometimes get overlooked. But one communication last month from Provost and Vice Chancellor Charles Cnudde and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance David MacKenzie is hard to overlook, since it refers to changes evident virtually everywhere on campus&emdash;UMass Boston's recent capital projects&emdash;encompassing both necessary maintenance work and improvements to campus facilities.
The new busway connecting to the lower level of the Quinn Administration Building is one such evident alteration. Others include the improved air quality in McCormack and Healey, and the roof and skylight repairs in Wheatley. These and other projects, completed within the last year, fall into a "state-funded" category, which means they have been paid for by money from the Higher Education Capital Bill, supplemental funding, and loans. The vice-chancellors point out in their memo that state-funded projects require a high degree of cooperative planning between the University and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, in order to carry put all phases of a project from initial study to design and construction.
Other projects are University-funded&emdash; smaller in scale, and paid for by grants, departmental funds, or repair accounts. Among these are the relocating of the Advising Center's Career Resource Library to the Ryan Lounge, new offices in the Quinn Administration Building, and support for the recent visit to campus of the Vietnam Moving Wall. Not so noticeable but vitally important are such changes as repairs and replacements to the McCormack transformers in the wake of the fire last spring. The emergency nature of those repairs necessarily led to delays for other projects.
The memo from the vice chancellors goes on to express appreciation of "staff and tradespeople in Facilities and elsewhere who work on these projects." It also highlights projects currently underway, which are in various stages of completion. Foremost among these is the Campus Center, construction on which is due to begin next summer. The project team is currently preparing for what's called the construction document phase, when drawings and specifications will be sent out to bid. It's expected that sixty percent of the documents will be ready for review before December.
Among other recently completed state-funded projects are:
• repairs to the seawall prom-enade near the Kennedy Library,
• shoring up of columns in the garage,
• replacement of doors to com-ply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
State-funded projects still to be completed include replacement of Healey Library masonry, and locker room construction in the Clark Center to comply with Title IX regulations governing equal facilities for male and female athletes.
Recently completed University-funded projects include, among others:
• alterations to office space at Athletics, CE, CM, CPCS, CSR, the Development Office, GCOE, and the Healey Library;
• renovations to chemistry, Computing Services, and psychology labs;
• installation of new study areas and reactivation of safety and security cameras in the library;
• Snowden Auditorium "make-over," including upgrade of lighting, new media equipment, repairs to stage, floor refinishing, new carpet, and reupholstering of seats.
University-funded projects scheduled for completion within the next few months include more lab and office renovations and an upgrading of signage and lighting in the garage.
In short, things are looking good around here&emdash;it is to be hoped that when it comes to capital projects benefiting UMass Boston, the campus is, as they say in sports stadiums and around Wall Street, on a roll.