Allison Roberts
Staff writer
The Oct. 15 loop construction completion deadline has come and gone, yet there are still workers and machinery scattered about campus continuing to work.
Eddie Harbin, director of Southeastern’s physical plant, explained that construction crews “ran into several obstacles such as unknown utilities that had to be relocated.”
Among the obstacles were a 6-inch water line along Sixth Avenue, a 2-inch water line that serves the Math Building and two 5,000 gallon septic tanks, Harbin said.
Redesign work by the architect/engineer was needed, Harbin said, due to issues with level ground as well as changes added by Southeastern. Additional construction is continuing to take place on campus.
According to Harbin, projects include a corridor between the Fine Arts and the Russell buildings, the five phases of remodeling Hallie McKinney, the “Russell 100 remodel and a few more that are in design stages.”
Additionally, a few projects are ongoing in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union, including Student Health Services, the racquet ball court and the student lounge.
Many of the construction efforts should be complete by the end of the year. However, Harbin said the “Russell 100 completion date will be determined by lead time of the furniture ordered.” There is no delivery date set currently, Harbin said.
The corridor between the Fine Arts Building and the Russell Building should be completed by Nov. 30, Harbin said, as should Student Health Services, the racquet ball court and the student lounge in the student union—projects Harbin referred to as “punch list items.”
By Dec. 31, phases three through five of the Hallie McKinney remodel should be complete, according to Harbin. He said phase one is complete, and phase two is currently 95 percent complete.
In order to perform upgrades on Hallie McKinney, water services to the building will be turned off for two days during the Thanksgiving break, Harbin said.
He added that the loop and other areas around campus will have to be closed on Nov. 14, and these closures will last through the Thanksgiving holiday for the addition of a new ADA crosswalk on 5th Avenue.
November 15, 2012