Progress of Master Plan Evident Around Campus

Construction Zone - Project Manager for the Wells/Sorrells Hall renovations Roger Chandler points to something on Wells Hall to his Ideal Construction crew.

The next phase of the Master Plan began Aug. 16 when a pre-construction meeting was held to discuss the renovation of Sorrells and Wells halls. It’s scheduled to be a 14-month project that will conclude mid to late October 2008.

“A couple of months ago we had some asbestos removal,” said Jay Jones, vice chancellor of Finance and Administration. “That was the first component of the project, but it was done on a separate contract.”

The renovations of Sorrells and Wells include adding a district heating and cooling system, compared to the individual units the halls once had. Due to the large amounts of construction around the buildings, the company roped off the area with orange fencing for safety.

"Safety is our main concern for the students," said Project Manager Roger Chandler of Ideal Construction in Crossett.

According to Chandler, the roped off areas are considered hard-hat areas, which means no one should enter that zone without a hard hat. Another change caused by the construction includes the relocation of some offices and divisions around campus.

Some relocations include:

Nursing faculty relocated to the Red Barn, located beside the Science Center;
Personal and Payroll Department relocated to the Fred J. Taylor Library;
Information Technology Department relocated to the modular buildings beside Sorrells and Wells; and
Debate and speech department relocated to the house next to the tennis courts.

Other aspects of the plan for Sorrells and Wells include relocating some offices for more efficient operations.

“We’ll be relocating our data center from Sorrells to Wells,” Jones said. “In the past, everything was scattered, but now it will be together. There will also be reassignment for some of our faculty.”

Photo by Eric Bell

Remodeling - A gutted Wells Hall hardly resembles the Nursing classrooms of the past. When construction concludes, Nursing will relocate to Sorrells Hall.

As a part of the Master Plan, the University is holding the Centennial Slogan Contest. In 2009, the University will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The Alumni Association invites all dues-paying alumni, emeriti and full-time faculty, staff and students to submit their suggestions for consideration.

“Submit a slogan, and if a student wins, they get free tuition,” said Linda Yeiser, vice chancellor for Advancement. “If it’s an alumni, they will get something else substantial.”

The office will accept submissions until Nov. 1. Contestants can submit slogan entries in writing to the Office of Advancement or by using the online form.

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©The Voice 2007
Revised 01/13/2008 03:16:50 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/Organizations/TheVoice/5_1/plan.htm