Campus Construction Projects Build on Progress

Active construction projects on the campus are moving into the home stretch, with five set to be completed by summer 2010, according to UT Dallas Facilities Management.

In the meantime, students, faculty and staff returning to the University after the winter break will find a few changes affecting how they will move around. Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to plan ahead and allow for extra time as they make their way in and around campus.

Campus Enhancement and Access to McDermott Library

The Campus Landscape Enhancement Project, a privately funded beautification project that runs down the heart of campus, is 90 percent complete. The central mall area will feature a waterway, fountains, trees, benches and vine-covered trellis.

Crews have begun work on the trellis, which has altered access to McDermott Library. Before the break, pedestrians could cross through the campus enhancement construction site between the Student Union and the northeast corner entrance to the library. However, now the fenced-in sidewalk cuts through the campus enhancement project several yards south of the former path, redirecting pedestrians to walk around the library to access the north entrance.

The new path offers faster access to the bookstore, Technology Store, tennis courts and the School of Management. For the library, a better approach may be from the north, crossing the campus’ east-west plaza between Engineering & Computer Science North and Berkner Hall and heading north between Founders and Founders Annex to continue the east-west on the ramp between Founders and Founders North that jogs north and leads to University Theatre and Green Center. Take the path that jogs south and west around Green Center, across from the east face of Founders, to reach the north entrance to McDermott Library.

Student Services Building

The 74,000-square-foot, $27 million Student Services Building will house nearly all the departments that current students – and prospective students and their families – will need during the course of their relationship with the University. 

These include:

• The Bursar’s Office and Financial Aid.
• The Career Center.
• The Dean of Students.
• Enrollment Services and the Registrar.
• The Health and Counseling Centers.
• International Student Services.
• The Multicultural and Women’s Centers.
• Residential Life and Housing Operations.

The facility is being developed with the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification that a building can achieve: A LEED Platinum Building. The four-story building will include large areas of common space, enabling current and prospective students to meet with advisors and staff, and to work with each other in informal settings. It also will feature a limestone facade that will have the appearance of floating from various vantage points within the facility.

As of December, the building is 50 percent complete. Construction will be finished in summer 2010.

Founders Hall Renovation

Founders Hall, one of the University’s oldest buildings, gets a facelift, most notably on its eastside. A new atrium lobby extending out to the mall is now enclosed with glass. The renovation adds an open computer lab in the basement, and updated classrooms and offices on the ground floor. As of December, the building is 60 percent complete. It is expected to open in summer 2010 at an estimated cost of $27.7 million.

Math, Science and Engineering Teaching (MSET) Learning Center 

MSET provides space for math and science teaching of primarily undergraduate students. The building will include a lab for research about effective teaching and learning techniques in those fields, both at the college and K-12 levels. The building also will feature a lecture hall, instructional labs and offices for faculty and tutors. As of December, the building was 60 percent complete. Construction will be finished in summer 2010.

Classroom Building West Redesignated

Classroom Building West has been redesignated as two structures: Classroom Building 1 and Classroom Building 2.

“Classroom Building West always has been two buildings. They now will receive proper distinction,” said Facilities Management Director Bill Elvey.