Other campus construction in progress
By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian
Photo illustration by Angela Lorona / The Collegian
A map of the Fresno State campus illustrates the numerous construction projects happening this semester. Major roofing projects and other renovations are taking place in the Science Building, McLane Hall and the Grosse Industrial Technology building. |
Many students may be surprised to discover the Henry Madden Library isn’t the only building that’s getting remodeled at Fresno State.
As many as 18 other projects are planned across campus, ranging from a new scoreboard and video display at Bulldog Stadium to re-roofing no fewer than three major campus structures.
Some students may wonder why projects like these weren’t completed over the summer break.
“We had to secure the funding first,” said Sydney Jackson, Communications Coordinator for Facilities Planning. Jackson said a lot of the funding is either from the chancellor’s office or bonds and isn’t something in a specific budget.
“It is too bad. I know it would’ve been better to have the roofing done during the summer, but it wasn’t possible,” Jackson said.
Three smaller parking lots will be part of a trial visitor parking program. Parking lots K, O and the parking lot west of the Smittcamp Alumni House will be part of the program beginning early November.
“These parking lots were generally not used,” Jackson said. “They will be painted a different color and will be exclusively for cars with day passes.”
Most of the projects are scheduled to be completed before the end of the semester. The completion of some projects will allow for others to begin.
“It is essential to widen Chestnut so that construction of Campus Pointe can get started,” Jackson said of the Chestnut Avenue expansion, which began in July and is expected to be completed in nine months.
Construction on Campus Pointe, the future 45-acre complex slated to feature multi-family housing, a hotel and a movie theatre, will begin Spring 2007. The widening of Chestnut Avenue is funded in part by a $4.67 million grant from the state’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program.
Parking lots are also being renovated and include the addition of a solar-panel parking structure.
Parking Lot V will be open throughout the construction of a solar-panel parking structure in the southeast corner, posed to cover 722 new parking spaces. The power generated by the solar panels will provide as much as 20 percent of the campus’ power.
Lot Q, near Barstow and Cedar, will feature a sign designed to show whether or not the parking lot is full.
“It is a pain to drive around for parking when there isn’t any,” senior music major Alissa Ardito said. “It’ll be great as long as they don’t block it off and let people drive in to verify it for themselves, because the equipment could get it wrong.”
Fortunately, there won’t be such a problem. “The equipment will be hooked up to the electronic system that monitors how many cars are going in and out of the parking lot,” Jackson said.
The addition was a suggestion of the Clean Air Task Force.
“It’s pretty cool that improvements are still being made,” said freshman Leo Esparza. “It’s been 95 years and they’re still making improvements.
“It shows that they care about their campus and I think that’s something to be proud of,” Esparza said.
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