UHS Selected by Jacksonville State University
1/26/2007
(Source: John Alred, “Projects at JSU near completion,” The Jacksonville News, January 24, 2007)
In his report to the Board of Trustees Monday, Jacksonville State University President Dr. William Meehan said several projects that have been in the works are nearing completion.
Meehan said the McClellan 3181 Parking Lot that is being built with federal funds awarded to Gadsden State Community College is approximately 75 percent complete. The project includes 70 paved parking spaces with lighting. Tasks still to be completed include paving, striping and the erection of light poles.
In addition, The Ayers Hall Transportation Building should be ready for occupancy this spring, Meehan said. He also reported that Taylor Construction completed the demolition of the Steam Plant, Abercrombie and Luttrell halls. However, a change order was submitted by Taylor and denied by the university. Taylor has appealed to the state of Alabama Building Commission and the school is awaiting the decision.
The Chimney Peak Observatory is expected to be completed by March.
“The concrete structure and dome are in place and completed,” Meehan said. “The mechanical, electrical and telecommunication portions of the project to operate the telescope are not completed at this time.”
Meehan said funding in the amount of $6.3 million has been appropriated and authorized through NASA for the Little River Canyon Field School. The revised design and plans have been completed by the architect and engineer and will be out for bid by the end of this month.
Work on the Art Department Annex building began this month with the erection of the building’s steel frame.
“This facility will meet the Art Department’s requirements for re-accreditation and will provide a safe and modern environment for the ceramic studio,” Meehan said.
A pre-construction conference and soil borings were held this month as Daktronics, Inc., prepares to put two scoreboards in Paul Snow Stadium and electronic message boards at Pete Mathews Coliseum and the Theron Montgomery Building.
“Electronic display boards are being manufactured and the contractor will mobilize to the site in early February,” Meehan said. “Funding for this project is to come from private gifts, advertising and sponsorship package sales.”
Meehan also told the trustees that spring enrollment was at 8,389, which is an increase over last spring’s enrollment. Meehan said the colleges with the larger gains of enrollment were the College of Arts and Sciences, which is up 219 students, and the College of Nursing, which is up 93 students. The College of Education was down by 282 students.
He also said that university housing for the spring semester is at 97 percent.
“At the last board meeting I shared with you that the JSU Foundation is considering a proposal to the board that would build apartment-like dorms and provide 300 to 500 additional living spaces on campus,” Meehan said. “Since then the Housing Project Committee of the Foundation has chosen University Housing Services to assist them in studying the feasibility of this project. The university has agreed to pay for a study from a third party firm that will assist identifying the type of facility best suited to JSU’s student needs.
“The university needs additional campus housing that will maintain a viable residential campus student life. The foundation plans to determine by the April board meeting if it will pursue this project. If it does not I will recommend a plan for the University to fund new housing initiatives at the end of its current housing bond obligations which ends in 2008.”