Despite Rainy Summer, Construction Remains On Schedule

In February 2002, Baylor's Board of Regents approved the first major components of Baylor 2012, the institution's 10-year vision, which includes several major construction projects on campus, and in spite of summer rain storms, these projects remain on schedule.
Work continues on the $23 million Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center, the centerpiece of the Sue and Frank Mayborn Natural Science and Cultural History Museum Complex, which should be completed in 2004. Approximately 80 percent of the concrete framing on phase I, which will house the Children's Museum and permanent exhibition galleries, has been completed and builders are beginning to erect steel for the roof.
The steel framing of the Stacy Riddle Forum Panhellenic Building is 90 percent complete and roof framing is also taking place. Running chilled water and steam lines to the building has caused Bill Daniel Esplanade at Eighth Street to be closed to traffic, but the street will be repaired before the beginning of the fall semester.
Depending on their use and design, some buildings require concrete framing while others use steel, explained Don Bagby, manager of facility planning. "Concrete is better to use with multi-story buildings that will have heavy loads on upper floors. The Science Building and new Parking Garage will be framed with concrete. The Museum has some interesting exterior shapes in its design, and concrete works better for that," he said.
The $103 million Sciences Building, a massive four-story, 500,000-square-foot facility that will house life sciences, physical sciences and five multidisciplinary research centers, and the Dutton Street Parking Facility, a 30,000-square-foot facility that will house 1,200 parking spaces as well as space for Baylor academic, information technology and other administrative departments, are both at the beginning phases of construction.
Utility lines that ran through the Science Building site have been relocated and excavation of the top soil is beginning. Once complete, crews will begin drilling to bedrock and erecting piers for the foundation.
Parking Facility construction necessitated the removal of Baylor Landing apartments and 95 percent of the demolition is complete. Excavation also will begin at this site soon.
Two renovation projects will be finished during the fall 2002 semester. Faculty will move into the 59,000-square-foot Morrison Hall, previous home to Baylor's Law School, in August. The building will house offices and classrooms for the philosophy, classics and modern foreign languages department, as well as space for student retention, the Center for Christian Ethics, the Institute for Faith and Learning and the Graduate School.
The university's marina pool facility also is getting a facelift. A clamshell cover for the pool has been custom made in California and soon will be shipped. Improvements to the pool's drainage system is 70 percent complete, and a classroom in the new 5,000-square-foot structure will be ready for the fall semester.
Check back often to the public relations web site for construction updates.