Construction all around: What's going up on campus

During the summer, it seemed as if the construction contractors on campus outnumbered students many times. But all their hard work toiling through the hot weather has not been fruitless. Three separate projects will be finishing up just in time for the start of fall classes, as well as several smaller renovations throughout campus.

College of Public Affairs and Community Service

The new home for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service will finish just in time for the college's departments to move in. This will be the first time the college has been housed in one building.

"There could be some programs that are not in, but we're talking a matter of days not a time longer than that," said John Amend, director of facilities and management. "Classrooms should be up and running, we have those scheduled for the fall."

The building will feature several collaboration areas, where different areas of study combine into one focused project.



Maverick Village

The 384-bed dormitory built next to University Village will also be open in time for the fall, with move-ins starting the week before classes resume on Aug. 25. Amend said the majority of the landscaping had been completed; however, there would most likely be more trees planted along the west side of the parking garage.

The garage is available to primarily campus residents, with the hope of freeing up more parking elsewhere. A limited number of overflow reserved spaces were sold to non-residents earlier this summer.



Milo Bail Student Center

Currently, much of the carpeting, stairs and infrastructure of the student center are being replaced. Amend said they hope to be completed in time for Aug. 25. In addition to the inside, the Henningson Campanile Plaza, located outside the student center's south entrance, will also be receiving a facelift.

"We're going to make a permanent stage for concerts and everything, put in some new planters, getting rid of those planters in the way, so making some more space," Amend said. "We're hoping that all of that is before school starts. That's the way construction usually has to work around here."



Aksarben Village

Although not one of the campus' developments, given its proximity, the university has been keenly interested in the new area known as Aksarben Village. Located on the Pacific Street Campus on the old site of the Aksarben racetrack, Amend said he had been told that, as early as late this summer, businesses would start moving into the development. He said the entertainment area, which would include a movie theatre, would begin construction in the spring.



Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library

Connecting old to new is the theme for the renovations continuing in the Criss Library.

"It's going to read more like the addition. More of that feel from the front to the back," Amend said. "To make it looks like one building now, instead of an older building with a brand new addition on it."

He said the first floor was almost finished, with work on the second and third floor finishing up in May 2009.



Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building

Due to be completed in three phases, the HPER renovation, when done, will include several multi-purpose courts, a juice bar as well as more than 100 more parking spaces.

"At or around the time school starts, the first phase will be out into the parking lot and starting to excavate the new addition that goes out to the west," Amend said. "The parking will be the biggest effect. During the renovation, we'll all just have to gain some different habits in getting in and out of the building. For the most part it won't be much different."

The first year will be mainly construction of new spaces, the second will be mostly renovation work but Amend said by next winter, the parking structure and gymnasium would be completed.

"By fall 2010, all of it should be back fully functional," he said.



College of Business Administration - Mammel Hall

A new 120,000-square-foot building will house the College of Business Administration on south campus next to the Peter Kiewit Institute. With a completion date of fall 2010, the building will house the college's departments and classrooms.

"For the most part they've been in design, they have moved a couple site trailers on [and] will start on some foundation work in the very near future. We're getting that prepped now," Amend said. "It won't be until later in the fall when we start to see something being scratched in the ground."



University Life Complex

Located on the Chili Greens property that UNO recently obtained, the planned University Life Complex would provide a focal point for several of the university's sports, including an ice complex. Set to go before the NU Board of Regents on Sept. 5, the program statement highlights three phases of construction, including baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as an ice complex.

If approved, the next step would be to secure a donor, Amend said. At this point no donor has been selected.



With several projects wrapping up this fall and even more in two years, the university continues to move forward as it prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday. Amend said students had plenty to be excited about on campus, with top-notch facilities being developed each year.

"You're going to want to come and spend more time, I just think it's providing better quality space and more and better programs," Amend said.

The university has developed a Web site to keep the campus community appraised of current and future construction efforts. The site, www.unomaha.edu/building, also has artist's renderings of many of the projects.