Princeton - Weekly Bulletin 09/05/04 - Construction projects dot campus landscape

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Editor: Ruth Stevens
Calendar editor: Carolyn Geller
Staff writers: Jennifer Greenstein Altmann, Steven Schultz
Contributing writers: Karin Dienst, Eric Qui–ones, Danielle Scruggs
Photographer: Denise Applewhite
Design: Mahlon Lovett, Laurel Masten Cantor, Margaret Westergaard
Web edition: Mahlon Lovett

Princeton NJ -- The online map representing campus construction projects under way this summer looks like a piece of white paper covered with a layer of Skittles candies.

The map (available through the facilities department Web site at <Web site>) is filled with multi-colored dots, each signifying a particular type of project. While some of the work is routine maintenance, a good share of it represents major activity.

The number of projects on the facilities' ''to-do'' list this summer was second only to the amount of work that occurred during the University's peak growth rate in the 1960s. With so many activities happening at once, coordination was essential, according to Michael McKay, vice president for facilities.

''We have a lot of good people juggling the balls,'' he said. ''It's not easy, but we have excellent people -- from the crews up through their leadership.''

Perhaps most noticeable to those who have been away from campus for the summer will be the construction site for Whitman College between Baker Rink and Dillon Gymnasium. McKay said that the project is moving ahead quickly, but on schedule. The 270,000-square-foot structure will provide dormitory, dining, social, cultural, educational and recreational space for 500 undergraduates and 10 graduate students and will supply office and teaching space for the Princeton Writing Program when it is completed in 2007.

Crews have been working in a giant hole in the ground this summer on excavation, footings and the foundation for the University's sixth residential college. Stonework on the collegiate gothic style building designed by Princeton graduate alumnus Demetri Porphyrios and the firm of Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott should begin early next year.

Work on existing dormitories constituted much of the other activity around campus this summer. The new ''ellipse'' dormitory -- the residence hall that borders Poe and Pardee fields -- will house its first students this fall. In addition to accommodating 222 students, the dorm is the new home for WPRB, the student radio station. After 58 years in Holder Hall, the station has moved into a new state-of-the-art broadcast complex. Site work around the ellipse dorm and Scully Hall will continue into the fall. (See related story above about the new wall drawing at the ellipse dorm.)

The ellipse dorm is serving as ''swing space'' during work on other residence halls. This summer, a 15-month renovation of Holder Hall began. Although work will not start on Hamilton Hall until next summer, it also was closed to provide easier coordination with the adjacent work in Holder.

Part of the project includes constructing an underground ''utility vault'' in the space between Joline and Hamilton to house an electrical substation and air handling equipment. During the construction, Mathey College residents will continue to have access to the dining hall and college offices located in Hamilton.

Sprinklers and other ''life safety'' devices, such as improved fire alarms and additional exits, were installed in several dormitories and graduate student residences over the summer: Lockhart, 1903, 1901-Laughlin, Henry, Pyne, 11 Dickinson St. and 45 University Place. The work brings the University into compliance with a state law requiring automatic sprinkler systems in all dormitories by this year.

''Every bed space occupied by students this fall has sprinklers,'' McKay said. He noted that sprinklers are being installed in the unoccupied Holder and Hamilton halls during the renovation.

Sprinklers also will be going into the 12-story Lawrence Apartments high-rise, which is closed in 2004-05. Earlier this year, seven new buildings opened at the expanded graduate student housing complex. The high-rise also will be getting new kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures and heating systems.

''In virtually every case when we've shut down an apartment or dormitory building to install sprinklers, we've also done something else, such as improved lighting, added phone and data outlets and replaced or refinished flooring,'' McKay said.

Moving from the south to the north end of campus, a very visible project begun this summer is the restoration of FitzRandolph Gate. Scheduled to be completed this fall -- in time for the landmark's 100th birthday in 2005 -- the project involves repairing the metal work from the three gates at the main entrance off Nassau Street as well as the gate on the western side. (The eastern gate was renovated in 1998.)

Slightly to the east, another gate and service road are being constructed as part of the completion of site work for the humanities complex. Connected to that project is work on the nearby Firestone plaza and façade. Over the summer, crews replaced a roof on the underground addition to the library that runs below the plaza and repaired the masonry on the front of the building and the tower.

The plaza will be temporarily restored this fall with an asphalt covering. Next summer, a permanent surface of bluestone pavers will be installed.

• Site work on the Frank Gehry-designed Lewis Library on the corner of Washington Road and Ivy Lane. Work on the 87,000-square-foot facility is proceeding on schedule.

• A major renovation of and addition to Burr Hall that is on schedule for completion in 2006. The building, which will house humanities departments, is also being retrofitted with an elevator.

• The renovation of Richardson Auditorium, which included installing a new sprinkler system and refurbished seating, repainting the ceiling and refinishing the flooring. Begun in early June, the work was slated to be completed so that the class of 2008 could have its traditional first assembly there on Sept. 5.

• The alteration of the boiler house on Elm Drive, which is no longer used to generate power. The Department of Public Safety is expected to relocate there from Stanhope Hall when the project is completed in fall 2005.

• An addition to the chilled water plant south of the MacMillan Building involving the construction of a 60-foot-high tank that will be used to store chilled water. The project is scheduled to end in spring 2006.

• The replacement of the track in Jadwin Gymnasium, which is slated to be completed in early September.

• The resurfacing by Princeton borough of University Place and portions of Alexander Road. This work, which caused some road closures during the summer, is not expected to interfere with the additional traffic on campus during student move-in. Additional temporary parking will be created on campus to make up for the spaces lost on University Place during the project.

• The completion of nine tennis courts near 1952 Stadium. The hard courts are lit until 11 each evening. Construction has begun on three more hard courts and three clay courts, which should be finished in spring 2005. The courts replace the Pagoda Tennis Courts, which were cleared for the construction of Whitman College.

Looking ahead, McKay said among the projects that will be added to this list in the coming months will be:

• Plans for the construction of a new building on the corner of Olden and William streets to house the Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering.

• Design work on a pedestrian bridge over Washington Road. The University is working with noted Swiss bridge designer Christian Menn and a U.S. engineering firm to develop plans.