With large construction projects like a new building for the School of Architecture and Planning and the Lobo Center business facility expansion, the university is gearing up for one of the biggest years of construction in its history.
North Diversion Channel
The extension of the North Diversion Channel located along Camino de Salud on north campus is well underway. Box culverts will be installed along the AMAFCA channel, recapturing 0.7 acres of land. Upon completion of phase I in mid-May, the land will be used as a lay-down yard for the Children’s Hospital and Critical Care Pavilion, recently named the Barbara and Bill Richardson Pavilion (BABRP).
The second phase of this important project will create a new entry into the UNM hospitals. The scope of the work includes expansion and reconfiguration of the Yale-Camino de Salud interchange, widening Yale north to Camino de Salud and moving Camino de Salud south over the area created by the box culvert project.
Highlights of the project include a new pedestrian walkway and extension of the existing bike trail. The project will minimally impact parking, but will temporarily close Camino de Salud. For more information on BABRP, visit http://hospitals.unm.edu/BBRPavilion/Index.shtml.
Electrical Upgrade Phase III
The electrical upgrade phase III project is now 33 percent complete. The project will affect various buildings (planned power outages) throughout main campus, as portions of the existing site electrical distribution system are upgraded to the newer and more reliable 12.47kV system.
To date, the project has impacted the following buildings: University House, Student Services Center, Mesa Vista Hall, Student Health Center, Johnson Center, Zimmerman Library, Bandelier, EECE/Centennial Library, Anthropology Annex and the area near the tennis courts. The electrical upgrade project will next move to Scholes Hall and require after-hours power outages presently being scheduled through June by the Physical Plant Department.
The Lobo Center
The Lobo Center business facility expansion project will construct a three-story, 70,000 square foot building in place of the space that previously housed Belew’s Office Supply and UNM Press.
Construction of the $10.8 million business facility began in early January. When construction is complete on the Lobo Center in December, general accounting, payroll, purchasing, accounts payable and human resources will occupy the facility. An estimated 200 employees will move to the new space, consolidating a portion the university’s business operations. In conjunction with the expansion project, phase II of Speech and Hearing Services will also be completed.
School of Architecture
The groundbreaking for the $16.5 million School of Architecture and Planning and Fine Arts and Design Library is scheduled to take place when the legislative session ends.
The facility will be located at what is currently the visitors parking lot, just east of the UNM Bookstore. Plans for the building include five stories and more than 98,000 sq. ft.
For up-to-date information on all major UNM construction projects, power outages and related issues, visit the Way To Go Web site at www.unm.edu/waytogo.
Allie Thompson, (505) 277-7584
Posted by scarr at February 15, 2005 03:25 PM