The new residence hall is on track for its scheduled completion, University Housing representatives said Monday.
The Living Learning Center is expected to be ready by fall term 2006 and cost about $27 million. This week, housing received sbuilding estimates on storm water systems, mechanical systems, concrete and masonry, Nancy Wright, director of Facilities Services, said.
Housing was able to approve construction of several of the more time sensitive and less expensive alternatives, Wright said.
Other approved projects include a kitchen and serving area, maintenance tunnel between buildings, trickle ventilators in room windows and staining of concrete in major public areas.
“We want to be able to do the solar hot water heating system,” Wright said. Money is not yet available for that project, but Wright said Housing will have until late summer to approve it.
Wright added that Housing wanted to build the solar water heating system before projects like floor staining, but because those projects were small, they were approved.
“We exercise alternates that are within the budget that we have at the time,” Wright said.
Housing officials asked the contractor, who generally works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to try and avoid loud activities prior to 9 a.m. On Saturday, Housing received three complaints from residents in nearby residence.
Housing will continue to cooperate with and listen to concerns of residents, Wright said. She added that she isn’t aware of any students who have moved out of nearby halls because of the racket.
The Living Learning Center has been advertised to prospective University students on the housing Web site and in pamphlets. Some future students have responded by making requests for placement in the facility, Residence Life Associate Director Sheri Donahoe, said.
Donahoe estimated that the Living Learning Center will primarily house first-year students.
“I think if I was a new student, I’d want to check it out,” she said.
Contracting for the Living Learning Center is being done by John Hyland Construction, who also contracted the renovation of Esslinger Hall in 1998.
— Adam Cherry