Nearly 30 major and minor capital improvement projects to update or restore parts of the University of St. Thomas will take place this summer. All of these projects will occur on the university’s St. Paul campus, and construction may cause some parking lots and areas of certain buildings to close temporarily during the summer.
Projects are scheduled to begin late May, and most will be completed by the end of August. The total cost is approximately $4 million (not including construction on the facilities-engineering building, which began March 31 and will cost $6.5 million), according to Jim Brummer, associate vice president for facilities at St. Thomas.
Summer projects include:
Facilities-engineering building
Construction will continue on the new facilities-engineering building on south campus. Motorists who want to park in lots M (east of Loras Hall), O (east of Cretin and Grace halls), V (west of the Service Center), and P, X and Y (all restricted for the St. Paul Seminary) should continue to enter and exit the south campus from Summit Avenue. Complete information can be found here.
Murray-Herrick Campus Center
The second-floor space of Murray-Herrick previously occupied by faculty/staff/priest dining will be remodeled beginning in July. The newly remodeled space will be used by the International Education Center. The space puts the center in a more centralized and accessible location to meet student needs.
Renovation of the restrooms on the first and second floors and lower level of Murray-Herrick will begin shortly after May 27. The renovation will provide more efficient bathroom fixtures, which will reduce water consumption, make the facilities handicap-accessible and improve the aesthetics of the spaces.
Additionally, Murray Hall will get a new roof near the end of the summer.
O'Shaughnessy Educational Center facade repair
Water has infiltrated behind the stone facade of the north and south sides of OEC, causing pieces of rock to fall off. Restoration will begin May 27 and will be completed by the end of summer.
Parking on the south side of Lot G will be closed for the summer to allow work to be completed.
Owens Science Hall
Last year half of the project to install new fume-hood control replacements on the fourth floor was completed. This summer, the project will be completed. In fiscal year 2015, fume-hood controls will be replaced on the third floor of the building. The new controls will allow for more efficient and sustainable use of the exhaust fans.
O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library
Energy-conservation opportunities identified in a 2011 energy-recommissioning study will be implemented this summer and into fall semester. The project will have no impact on operations.
Parking lots
Lots A and D, as well as the service drive on the south side of the Binz Refectory will be resurfaced at a date to be determined.
Residence life
Brady, Grace, Ireland and Flynn halls will receive new carpet. Indoor painting also will be done.
