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Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jason Hook, Photographer Centennial Village's progress is still on track, with an Aug. 1 completion date for a majority of the rooms. The remaining units are set for completion in November.

Media Credit: Tim Lester, Photographer The future of Johnson Street is still under consideration but a traffic study addressing various concerns will be finished next week.

Construction of Centennial Village continues, according to the ASU Construction Report, as ironworkers install the first set of stairs in the new dormitory last week.
Development on the steel support structure for the main lobby entry is also in progress.
Centennial's 474 units are expected to be complete by Aug. 1 and the remaining 48 units finished by November.
Along with the new dorms, several other projects are developing on campus:

University Hall abatement and demolition

"University Hall has asbestos in it so before we can demolish it we have to remove the asbestos," said John Russell, director of planning and construction. "We're planning on building a residence hall similar in construction to Centennial Village and Texan Hall, but we're not sure what type of units will be in there. We are hoping we can start sometime in 2009 and have it ready by the fall of 2010, but that's pushing it."

Possibility of closing Johnson Street

A traffic study to determine the closing of Johnson will be completed this week.
"The city has joined us to see what could happen if we close Johnson," Russell said. "We hired a national firm to do a traffic study and what they are looking at are traffic options, parking options, anything they see that can help the parking situation around campus, to help guide us on what we should do."
The possibility of closure, according to Russell, is not a decision to be made lightly and needs serious attention.
"Should we close Johnson?" Russell said. "Is it viable? Is it going to help us? What's it going to do to the community because those are all considerations that we have to make. I live in this neighborhood and I go down there. I would rather see it closed for the students' safety."
Sharon Meyer, the vice president of finance and administration, is responsible for planning and maintaining all campus facilities, land and any external property/buildings used by the university. According to Meyer, the sensitive subject of closing Johnson is still under deliberation.
"The traffic study will make recommendations regarding not only the closing of Johnson but also the impact on area arteries," Meyer said. "We also asked them to look at parking and how that could be improved and ultimately the impact on traffic if parking were reassigned. At this point, the appropriate comment is that the closing of Johnson is still under consideration."

Student Gathering Areas

Plans to put in awnings and seating areas in various locations on campus are waiting for approval.
"The student gathering areas is up for pricing right now," Russell said. "As soon as it's priced we are ready to proceed with that as long as it's within our budget. One will be between the UC and the library and the second will be by the MCS and Rassman."

Robert and Mary Massie dorms renovation

The tentative plans are renovation of the bathrooms and possibly the lobbies.
"The plans for the Massie dorms are to replace the showers and update all the bathroom facilities," Russell said. "Most of the showers are acrylic showers and they are starting to break and we are going to put in solid surface material. We are also going to try to update the lobby area."

Facilities Management building renovation

Plans are to renovate inside the building without adding any square footage.
"We are putting in ADA restrooms and renovating office areas because of increased staff load," Russell said.

Monument signs around campus

The signs will be at the major intersections of Johnson, Avenue N, Dena, Vanderventer, Jackson, University and Rosemont.
"They are getting ready to start on the monument signs," Russell said. "What we are trying to do is define the boundary of the campus for people."

Other facilities improvements

"We've been continuing on the performance contract, which is replacement of lighting, plumbing and mechanical systems in every building on campus," Russell said. "This has been a two-year project and we've got about four or five months to go. It's almost complete."

Completed projects of 2007-2008:

• Demolition of Mayer and Runnels Hall
and police station
• Cavness Science building asbestos
abatement and floor replacement but
ceilings still need renovation
• President's house and office renovation
• Carr Recital Hall renovation
• Nursing Simulation lab
• Reidy building renovation for new police
station
• Continuing Education Building, which
now houses Communications and
Marketing


"As ASU grows there will be more and more construction," Meyer said. "We must meet the needs of not only a growing population but also student demand. Higher education is a very competitive environment and we must offer the best possible facilities and amenities to attract students."

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