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Department of Communication & Journalism — 2006                                                                                          E-Mail C&J Online News
 

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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.

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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.
For more images of the event, go to photographs.

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.

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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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