The crane is leaving the building. Marking another step toward the completion of the Lillis Business Center, the 220-foot crane that has graced the sky above the University since last June will be taken down this weekend.
Removal of the crane will begin today and continue through the weekend. The removal will require general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis, to bring a 300-ton portable crane to the construction site. The large crane will be delivered to the site today and set up Saturday morning. Areas of East 13th Avenue, just south of the construction project, will be closed as the tower crane is disassembled.
“Students should try to avoid the area as much as possible,” Department of Public Safety Associate Director Tom Hicks said. “The crane will likely be laid out across much of (13th Street.) If students could find some other way to get across campus, it would be helpful.”
Workers will dismantle and move the crane during the weekend.
“We’re actually a little ahead of schedule on the construction of the building,” Lease Crutcher Lewis project manager Matt Pearson said. “With the crane gone, there will be a big push to get the exterior skin finished and work moved to the inside.”
Students and community members hoping to watch workers dismantle the crane should plan on viewing the rigamarole from the Memorial Quadrangle in front of the Knight Library, Associate Director of Communications Joel Gorthy said.
“The boom will extend into the area, but crews will have it well roped off,” Gorthy said.
Construction flaggers and barriers will be in place to direct students around the construction site.
Gorthy said pedestrians and cyclists may be inconvenienced over the weekend, but he hopes they will realize the long-term benefits of the construction.
The $40 million center, a four-story addition to the business school, will feature an additional 145,000 square feet of classroom space, several conference rooms, a coffee shop and numerous technology and media resources.
Business College Associate Dean Christopher Murray said he hopes the wide open spaces of the building will give students, faculty and business people room to meet together and learn from one another.
“It’s a jaw-dropping building,” Murray said. “It’s going to be terrific for the students.”
The University intends to open the center for classes January 2004.