Construction and repairs are continuing throughout campus and will continue throughout the spring semester.
During winter break, different repairs were made to buildings on campus. The necessary repairs were done while classes were not in session and various different projects were completed.
The smaller repairs and projects that were completed occurred in Knobview Hall, Crestview Hall, Hillside Hall and Life Sciences building.
Repair work included cleaning of the classrooms, carpets, repairs to walls and whiteboards and painting of the walls in the classrooms.
Improvements have also been made to the remaining projects related to the construction of the lodges, which included walkways, landscaping screen, drainage and manholes.
Also, behind the University Center and north of Meadow Lodge, riparian mitigation will take place in order to restore the flow of the creek and control the run-off from the parking lots, something that has recently been an issue.
“Any work that is a danger to any personnel, we take care of immediately or barricade the area off ,” JimWolfe, director of the Physical Plant, said. “All repairs are being finished swiftly and accurately, without the threat of any immediatedanger for students, faculty or staff.”
Despite many repairs and construction projects that have been completed on campus, more projects still remain. Among the projects yet to be completed include the repairs to the roofs of the Ogle Center, Knobview Hall and Life Sciences buildings.
Wolfe said the construction on the roofs have been delayed until April 1 because, in order to work on the roofs, it must be more than 40 degrees for the glue to adhere properly.
The re-roofi ng of Knobiew Hall and Ogle Center, which are being contracted by Singles Roofing, are set to begin in April and will tentatively last anywhere from two to four months.
Masonry work to the roofs, contracted by Roofing Services and Solutions, are currently being worked on while
the re-roofing work has been delayed.Wolfe said he monitors the construction and what is supposed to be going on and helps in any way that he can.
Dana Wavle, vice chancellor for Administrative Aff airs and Finance, said now is the time to be taking advantage of the bidding environment for the roofing projects.
“The roofing projects are being funded by the 2007 to 2009 Repair and Rehabilitation fund, and we are close to drawing that fund down to zero,” Wavle said. “The bids from contractors are coming in remarkably low.
They need the work, and IU Southeast is taking full advantage of this current bidding environment.”
Funding for the projects that have or are being completed come from four different pools of funds.
A small amount of remaining funds in the housing project fund are being used for the residual projects related to the constructionof the lodges.
This fund is also coming close to drawing down to zero.
Residual funds from the University Center renovation are being used for University Center projects, like the new air handler for the Hoosier Room.
The 2007 to 2009 Repair and Rehabilitation funds are responsible for the major projects on campus, such as the roofing and masonry work, as well as window replacements.
Wavle said he has not heard any final news or confirmation on how much will be available in the 2009 to 2011 Repair and Rehabilitation fund; therefore, IU Southeast is being careful with how they spend the money they have been given.
The last pool of funding is the limited base budget fund, which is responsible for the small projects on campus that are based on need and priority.
Other remaining projects set to begin include repairs to the IUS Library skylight window to alleviate leaks during rain. This project has also been delayed because warmer weather is needed to complete it. Wolfe said this project is not large and will be completed shortly after it begins in April.
A project in Hillside Hall will also be starting soon.
The project, which will build the Hillside Trading Room, will be a room that will have screens around the room. The room will be conducted like the New York Stock Exchange.
This project, funded by the small projects funds and a gift from a donor, is slated to begin as soon as warmer weather comes.
Wavle said IU Southeast is continuing to improve and maintain the buildings and grounds of the campus.
“We are defi nitely feeling the pain of the cuts, but we are well-positioned to weather the storm,” Wavle said. “It’s all about balance, and we have to continue to move forward and that’s what we’re doing.”
By NIKOLETTE LANGDON
Staff Writer
nlangdon@ius.edu