A variety of construction projects have been taking place all over the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. With sidewalks blocked off, fences everywhere and big cranes taking the stage, one cannot help but wonder what renovations are currently taking place.
When talking to Scott Herbert, the director of facility management at UL Lafayette, he briefly discussed all of the construction projects that are either in the works or soon to come. Additionally, he explained the common sidewalk issue that students are facing, as they have to walk around construction sites to get to class.
As for the construction, Herbert began listing the designs that are being developed starting with the Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
The plans regarding the football stadium are moving well, and are supposed to be completed before the first game in August. As for on campus, Herbert declared that the largest construction going on is with Madison Hall.
Herbert stated, “We have some renovations of Madison Hall going on. We added to the front of it, which you can see outside the fence. We are completing the first phase. I believe it is scheduled to be completed in May… There is a potential third phase, which would do the second building behind Madison Hall, that is scheduled to potentially be started mid-year next year, and we will know for certain if that will happen in July.”
Madison Hall is not the only on-campus renovation taking place though, the engineering building is also undergoing some current changes as well. Herbert confirmed that all of the underground work and preliminary work has already been completed.
Herbert stated, “They’ve still got some cleanup to do and a couple of miscellaneous things, which they’ll knock out before the end of this month. We are scheduled to actually start construction on that building this summer.”
Additionally, there is a new sciences building in the design phase right now, Herbert commented, “We’re hoping to have some better pictures and better feel for how it fits and what it looks like and what’s involved with it come fall of next year.”
Montgomery Hall is also in the design phase as well. Herbert announced that they only need to finalize floor plans to get the ball rolling, since they have already talked to the deans of that building.
Another project under construction is the laboratory school. Herbert noted, “We have the lab school underway. We’ve worked out the plan for that one. We are currently submitting our program and hoping to move into schematic design… We’re starting to do some cleanup around there. We should know more in about a year or so on what exactly is going in there.”
The Health sciences building is also getting some new equipment in the future, with construction potentially starting next fall. The stimulation equipment from Wharton hall will be moved there in late July and the building will also receive a regional simulation center, high fidelity simulation labs, three more floors and more in place of the oncology building. The oncology building is scheduled to start demolition towards the end of February or early March.
Lastly, Herbert added that the first floors of Moncus hall, the 601 building and the kinesiology building will all be undergoing some renovations in addition to all of the previous projects listed.
Regarding the new kinesiology building, Herbert stated, “It’s gonna take the place of the existing East side concession building. It’s gonna have a training table on the second floor, which is going to serve as a dining hall for the student athletes on game days.”
He continued, “It’s actually going to double as a student lounge or student club. So there’ll be access up there to food and air conditioning and TVs. And there’s a porch or an outdoor patio that overlooks the field so you can actually watch the game from up there.”
These upcoming construction projects are going to enhance student life in the future, but as of right now, it can be a hassle for students to avoid the many construction sites on campus as they walk to class.
Lily Stanley, a freshman majoring in graphic design, did not mind sharing her insight concerning how construction and blocked off sidewalks has impacted her student experience.
She stated, “Now that the construction from in the Griffin area is done, it’s much better. But last semester, when that whole section was blocked off we had to go all the way around. It’s kind of inconvenient, you know… The construction that’s happening now… near the greenhouse, that doesn’t really affect me, because I dont cross that path. But yeah it’s been inconvenient.”
As for the sidewalk chaos, Herbert commented, “We’ve tried to establish the sidewalks to where there’s still a transferable path for the students getting from one side of campus to the other. When these projects are not in construction, or there’s a point in the construction when the fencing can be pulled back. We’re going to do that, which means it would allow greater access to sidewalks, more paths for people to get across.”
All in all, there are a lot of projects being worked on and renovated on the campus of UL Lafayette. So watch your step because there is plenty of building work ahead.