Rennovations upgrade campus
Eastern’s campus is gradually changing; several residences halls were upgraded while other major projects are still under construction.
The main changes students will see in the fall are the renovations of some university apartments, the installation of new windows, a new sprinkler system and fire alarm system.
Four university apartments in Cooper’s complex were renovated; new carpet, tile and cabinets were installed.
Other renovations include new windows in Thomas, Andrews, and Stevenson, which will also be installed in Taylor and Lawson halls
next summer.
As part of the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act, new sprinkler system and fire alarm upgrades were installed in Thomas and Lincoln Halls.
Mark Shaklee, associate director of housing said the act requires the installation of a sprinkler and an upgrade to the fire alarm system in all residence halls by Jan. 1, 2013.
The only residence halls left to upgrade are Taylor next summer and Ford, Weller and McKinney halls in the summer of 2012.
One of the most dominant changes in campus is the new textbook rental building located on 975 Edgar Drive by Carman Hall.
This facility was completed in late April and several of its benefits include a 24-hour drop box, off-street parking and a software program to inventory textbooks and facilitate their distribution.
Vicki Woodard, coordinator of public information, said it will take time for students to get used to this facility.
“It will take a little bit of time for returning students to get used to the new (textbook rental) location but I hope everything will run smoothly,” she said.
The Renewable Energy Center, located between McKinley and Edgar Avenue on Illinois Route 130, is another new project students will see in the fall.
This project is scheduled to be finished by 2011, but in the meantime steam tunnels are still being installed to connect the energy center with campus, and as a result several roads will be closed.
The nearest road closures are Ninth Street between Cleveland and Roosevelt Avenues from July 19 through Aug. 2, and Grant Avenue between Seventh and Ninth Streets from Aug. 4 through Sept. 29, with vehicular access to the Martin Luther King University Union via Seventh Street.
Steve Shrake, the associate director of design and construction, said only maintenance work has been performed in academic buildings this summer.
“Other than brick tuck pointing at the Student Service Building, only maintenance work, not renovation work, is being performed in academic or administrative buildings this summer,” he said.
Shrake added the antenna at Buzzard Hall will be replaced soon.
“AT&T will be replacing their antenna with a new tower in the Buzzard Hall fenced?tower area in the next few weeks,” he said.
Shrake explained renovations on campus do not have anything to do with the master campus plan.
“These are ongoing projects to upgrade existing facilities. Master planning does not address such details but rather looks at long range planning,” he said.
Pablo Rodriguez can be reached 581-7942 or jprodriguez@eiu.edu
