Demolition cuts campus parking

Demolition cuts campus parking

By Sarah Mitchell

Demolition of the parking garage east of the Student Center began during winter break, ridding the university of 344 parking spots.

The garage was demolished so construction of the new Student Services building could begin hopefully in March, said Leo Driscoll, an estimator at construction management services.  Three parking lots have been made available to students and staff with red and blue parking decals to replace the demolished parking garage.

Parking lots 10A and 10B, located south of Anthony Hall, were expanded and reconfigured to provide 81 parking spots. Lot 13B, located east of the Student Center, was built to provide 236 additional spaces.

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Even with three new lots, there are 27 fewer spaces than were available previously.

Driscoll said he thinks the additional parking lots will be enough parking for students and staff, and the work on removing the parking garage is going well.

“We’re finishing up the bottom floor and the east wall, and the columns need to be taken out,” he said.

Driscoll said the crew hopes to start building the Student Services Center in March.

Tim Chapman, of Bunker Hill, has been working on-site as an operator since the project began Dec. 17.

“Demolition is 90 percent complete,” he said.

“(The site) should be ready for construction within 30 days.”

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The new Student Services building will house Saluki First Year and University Housing offices, as well as the enrollment management functions such as the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid Office, Bursar’s Office and Graduate School student services.

The estimated cost of the project is $34.5 million. The project will be funded by student fees, the sale of revenue bonds and University Housing funds.

The project has been underway since the Board of Trustees approved the preliminary plans at its

Sept. 14, 2006 meeting.

According to a statement released by the Board of Trustees, “The facility will accommodate the offices necessary to provide the enrollment-related functions and a new welcome center within the facility with cross-trained staff to serve students. The welcome center will have an open reception area and will have the latest technology to meet the ’24/7′ service expectations of our students.”

Rod Sievers, university spokesman, said the new building is important because it will serve as a one-stop shop service for students.

“The building will consolidate a lot of the offices that students use on a regular basis,” he said. “Students will have more convenient access to these services, and the offices will have more convenient access to each other.”

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