The summer construction season is here, meaning several projects already under way will ramp up and several others will commence in the coming weeks.
Campus construction projects that will cause the largest impacts on pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists are scheduled between May and August when the campus population shrinks for the summer season and the weather is most favorable for construction activity.
To fit major work into this timeframe, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities personnel work to coordinate road and parking lot closures to best accommodate the campus community and its visitors, while still ensuring their projects stay on track for on-time completions.
While some projects involve little impact to those in the MSU community, some might cause pedestrians, bikers and motorists to use alternate routes to arrive at their destination. Infrastructure Planning and Facilities offers resources to help the campus community and its visitors navigate around campus this summer and keep updated on construction happenings. The main resource is the construction website, which provides information on specific projects, detour maps by month, details on the monthly "Construction Junction" public information meetings and instructions on how to join the construction listserv for regular construction updates.
Following are some of the major construction projects:
Brody Neighborhood - Utility Improvements - Phase V
This project involves replacing the steam and condensate distribution system and creating a loop from the Harrison Road bridge to Brody Hall. The loop provides redundancy so the complex can continue to be fed steam if there is a line break.
Parking - Lot 67 (Jenison) - Reconstruction
This project involves redesign and reconstruction of the parking lot to meet current standards for safety, storm water management and pavement. The project will address the failed irrigation lines, extend the water supply to a new fire hydrant to meet current fire code, install LED lighting and address accessibility requirements related to Jenison Field House entrances. The project also includes restoration of the parking lot service drive. The service drive provides access to the adjacent athletic fields and will involve installation of a short section of the Red Cedar Greenway bicycle path.
Duffy Daugherty Football Practice Field - Filming Tower
This project involves pouring a concrete-pier footing to support a 50-foot video tower with a roof and 40-foot high viewing platform for video recording and use by coaches. The tower will require electricity and data. It will sit between the practice fields replacing a concrete slab where the temporary lift now sits. It will be accessed by internal stairs with access secured by lockable mesh gates at the bottom.
Spartan Stadium - Addition 5 - North End Zone
The planning of this project is anticipated to include creating a two-level addition; adding recruiting rooms to the concourse floor; addressing maintenance needs; upgrading locker rooms and team spaces; creating media rooms on the lower level of the addition; and adding shell space for future restroom and concessions facilities.
West Circle Steam Loop Segment 2 (2013)
The 2013 work on West Circle Drive is the second segment in a four-segment program to replace the deteriorating steam tunnels. Additional core infrastructure improvements will be made in conjunction with the steam upgrades, including water main, telecommunication and electrical upgrades. West Circle Drive also will be reconstructed with two traffic lanes and a bike lane to be consistent with current MSU transportation standards.
Morrill Hall Demolition
The demolition of Morrill Hall will occur between May and September 2013. The work scope involves demolition of the structure, site-restoration with lawn, sidewalks, benches and commemorative signage. The site restoration plan was developed by MSU students as part of a 2011 design competition. The restored site will feature a terrace with green space and extensive landscaping; special paving; seat walls and piers that will hold commemorative plaques. The seat walls and piers will be constructed with lime stone and salvaged red sandstone from the building. To commemorate Justin Morrill and the Morrill Act, the MSU Board of Trustees approved at its April 2013 meeting the renaming of Agriculture Hall to the Morrill Hall of Agriculture. A dedication event is slated for fall 2013.
Botany Greenhouses - Demolition
This project involves the demolition of existing structures with restoration of the site to include turf, storm drainage and limited modifications to the parking. The primary user groups of these facilities, including faculty and staff from the College of Natural Science, were closely involved in the condition assessment of the buildings and planning for relocation of the plant collections.
Auditorium - Alterations to Fairchild Theatre
Alterations to Fairchild Theatre and related spaces will enable improved and full use of this currently underutilized facility. This project also includes the relocation of the Department of Theatre's scene shop, which is necessitated by the renovations to Fairchild Theatre. Programmatically, it will allow for the consolidation of the Music and Theatre scene shop needs and provide improvement of the scene shop working environment.
Bogue Street and Shaw Lane Intersection Reconstruction and Steam System Repairs
New federal design standards require design modifications and traffic signals for pedestrian safety, particularly pedestrians with mobility disabilities. Additionally, steam system repairs are part of this project as Michigan State uses an intricate network of steam tunnels and lines to heat campus buildings, and some of the lines are in need of repair to avoid failures in steam delivery.
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - New High Bay and Duct Bank
The planning of this project is anticipated to include a new 27,000 square foot high bay (known as the SRF High Bay), which wíll be used to house superconducting radio frequency technical facilities at MSU in designated areas.
The planning of this project is anticipated to include the installation of a concrete-encased duct bank from the T.B. Simon Power Plant to the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/Cyclotron which will be capable of transmitting up to 25MW of electrical power and have spare capacity for future campus needs.
Bio-Engineering Facility
This new Bio Engineering Facility will be located between the Life Science and the Clinical Center buildings in the south academic district. This project involves a four-story research laboratory building that is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary research and interaction amongst all occupants/users, and the sharing of specialized research equipment, such as imaging.
Transportation Services - New Fuel Station
The planning of this project is anticipated to include decommissioning the existing fueling station and relocating the function to an alternative location. The new station will include underground tanks, dispenser units and overhead canopy paved circulation space to accommodate large and small service vehicles as well as buses and rental vehicles. The project will also include construction of a new car wash to replace the existing facility.
Parking lot painting schedule
The majority of parking areas on campus are striped on a three-year rotation. Painting is scheduled in two-week time periods to allow for striping to take place in smaller sections and to also allow for rain days. Parking areas that are being painted are generally shut down for two to three hours, but may take longer due to weather conditions such as temperature and humidity, which can cause the paint to dry slower.