It’s officially summertime on the campus of Slippery Rock University in Butler County and that means crews are busy working on summer construction projects.
Vice President of Facilities Scott Albert said there are 20 major projects on the docket this summer totaling a combined $66 million.
“This will be a busy summer but not an overwhelming summer,” Albert said. “The timing has worked this year where we will have three decent-size projects that will finish up around the same time.”
Included on that project list is the $6.5 million renovation to the Strain Safety Management Building, which should be done by this fall. Improvements and updates will include: new air conditioning, windows, restrooms, faculty offices, student study spaces, ROTC student lounge, student art gallery, construction/general industry safety labs, improved industrial hygiene and emergency preparedness/fire safety labs and updated classrooms.
The North Hall and ROCK Apartments residence facilities will be renovated in two phases, the first of which will be completed before the start of the fall semester with the second phase on tap for summer 2019.
Improvements to North Hall this summer will include new bathrooms on each of the three floors and various cosmetic improvements to the third floor. Similar updates for the second floor and new windows for the entire building will be part of the second phase.
The kitchens and bathrooms in four of the eight ROCK Apartment buildings – 310, 320, 330 and 350 – will be renovated this summer with the other four buildings scheduled for upgrades in 2019. The ROCK Apartments house a combined 188 students in 47 four-bedroom units.
Renovations to the performing arts buildings also kick off this summer. Projected completion dates for the various buildings include: West Gym by January 2019, East Gym by May/June 2019 and Miller Auditorium by August/September 2019. Upon completion, Miller Auditorium will be expanded by 9,500 square feet and feature a 753-seat performance space, two dance studios, an orchestra pit, a new lobby and a scene shop. West Gym will house offices and classrooms for SRU’s Dance and Theatre Departments and a dance studio with additional support areas for both departments. East Gym updates will include a black box theater with seating for 296, a costume shop, acting and design classrooms and a dance studio.
During the renovations, the Dance Department will be housed in Spotts World Culture Building and the Theatre Department will continue to be housed in the University Union. Albert noted that parking spaces along Morrow Way would be affected by the construction.
Other summer projects include renovations to the softball field, the replacement of underground steam and condensate lines near Boozel Dining Hall and Buildings A through E, adjusting the cross slope of Field House Road near the Morrow Field House entrance and routine asphalt maintenance and seal coating to several parking lots.
