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C&J
celebrates $5.8 million renovation
 |
Faculty don
hard-hat helmets and hand-made ties for ceremony. |
APRIL
2006 — Announcement of the remodeling of historic C&J
building to add classrooms, computer labs and new utilities.
Go to video
Go to photographs
The start of a remodeling project of the C&J
building that will renovate the inside and convert 12,000 square
feet to the department's use was celebrated in a "construction
carnival" on April 21, 2006.
Students, faculty, staff, guests —
and yes, some passersby, too — joined in ceremonies
on the west side of the building to listen to music and speakers
and to enjoy cotton candy, hot dogs and soft drinks.
The guests included Dr. Reed W. Dasenbrock,
provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, and
Dr. Vera Norwood, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Also
present was Peggyann Hutchinson, who was in the first graduating
class of communication students in 1950.
The
building, designed by famous Southwest architect John
Gaw Meem,
was erected in 1948 for the journalism school and UNM
Press.
It has been home to both the communication and journalism programs
since they were combined in 1991.
 |
Even
Kilroy was there for the festivities, showing up in
a room where you could spray-paint the walls
with graffiti. |
|
Dasenbrock said the expansion
of space is long overdue for the department, which he said
has been getting by with "more majors per square foot" than
any other department on campus.
Norwood pointed out that renovation
of the historic building has been under consideration for
several years, dating back to when she and Dasenbrock had different
jobs.
"We're going to get this done while we're still
in our present jobs," she said.
C&J Chair Dr. John G. Oetzel said the remodeling
will replace and upgrade the 58-year-old building's heating,
cooling, plumbing and telecommunications systems. The extra space
will come from C&J taking over first-floor space that had been
used by the grounds department, which Oetzel said will allow
C&J to increase its classrooms from four to 11, including two
computer pods.
NEWS |
The
C&J building was closed for renovation during the
2006-2007 academic year.
|
Other plans call for a new broadcast studio,
a student lounge and library, a multi-purpose workspace,
and new first-floor administrative offices replacing current
ones on the second floor. There will be more classrooms and
a second computer pod added.
The present loading dock and part of a parking
lot will be removed and landscaped, Oetzel said. Alumni and friends
of the department can buy inscribed bricks that will be laid
down for an "Alumni
and Friends Pathway," and there are other
opportunities to help support the department and its students
through its Giving
to C&J program.
If you have a correction,
addition or comment to make on this coverage, please send
an e-mail.  |
Of the cost, $4 million is being provided by
a bond issue authorized
by the Board of Regents in June 2006 for several campus improvement
projects, and the university has added an additional $1 million.
Oetzel said the total cost will exceed $5 million, so donations
and fund-raising also will be needed.
See architect's drawing
of what the new
building will look like.
Go to photographs.
View Campus Report television video.
Go to coverage of the event in the Daily
Lobo.
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