The Administration Division will conduct a series of sweeping renovations and construction projects on the Troy campus this summer. While development begins on a comprehensive facilities expansion project on the east campus, construction of the eMPAC foundation will begin, along with several projects targeted to upper class residence halls.
Most notable among the projects scheduled for residence halls is a significant renovation of Warren Hall. Wardrobes that currently separate the two sides of Warren’s double occupancy rooms will be removed, to be replaced by furnishings similar to those used in Barton Hall. Each room will also be assessed to determine what changes are appropriate to lighting and bathroom fixtures, and all exterior windows will be replaced.
In the basement, storage space will be reconfigured to improve access to the building laundry and a bike rack will be installed. On the main floor, an office across from the hall kitchen will be redeveloped into a dining room, and half of the existing lounge will receive a hard flooring surface to better accommodate table tennis use.
“The freshman residence halls have all been renovated to a consistent level. This is the start on upper class halls,” noted Pete Snyder, director of Residence Life. His office conducted focus groups with Warren Hall residents to assess their needs and preferences in the renovation.
Other student life related projects include additional window replacement along with kitchen and bathroom renovations in the Stackwyck and RAHPs areas, reconstruction of the north wall of the Commons Dining Hall, and significant landscaping projects around the Commons area.
Work will begin immediately following commencement on the first phase of the East Campus Facilities Project with the returfing of Harkness Field, adjacent to the Houston Field House. Crews will also excavate Lower Renwyck Field to improve drainage, replacing its grass surface with turf, while installing seating and lighting improvements. Ken Ralph, athletic director, noted these projects “will provide Rensselaer with some of the better outdoor venues in the region. They will be a great addition for varsity, club, and intramural sports.”
Project planners have approved the final location of a locker room and training facility between the two fields, on which construction will also begin this summer. Finally, new boards and glass will be installed inside the Houston Field House around the playing surface by August.
On the core campus, the first phase of construction will be finished on the biotechnology and interdisciplinary studies center, along with final completion of the parking garage. Significant landscaping and streetscaping projects will be undertaken this summer to improve access and aesthetics on 15th Street and College Avenue. By September, most of the staging areas near Academy Hall will be returned to pedestrian and parking use.
Excavation has already begun on the eMPAC site at the intersection of College Avenue and 8th Street. Foundations will be drilled this summer for the project, but according to Vice President for Administration Claude Rounds, “we think eMPAC, as a project, will have less day-to-day impact on the campus compared to construction of the parking garage.” Different techniques will be utilized for eMPAC that should minimize vibrational interference with campus research projects. While a significant staging area will be used near the library and VCC, plans have been developed for handicapped and service access to all campus buildings.
To prepare for the summer construction season, the Administration Division is developing its annual impact map, to plot how the various projects will interact with each other and their net impact on campus life. In addition, a comprehensive search is being conducted to locate a new director of Campus Planning and Facilities Design, following the recent departure of Oliver Holmes. Rounds noted that, while his team has been very effective at mitigating the impact of the vacancy, the position is “extremely important” to the division, and will be filled as soon as possible.
