Posted on
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Sunday, August 03, 2008
$17 Million UT Tyler University Center Renovation Begins
By ASHLIE OSBURN
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
A $17 million construction project is currently under way at The University of Texas at Tyler for a three-story addition and renovation of the University Center.
“Even at it’s (the University Center) current state, it’s an important part of the campus, but we’re just going to get a massive upgrade,” said Gregg Lassen, vice president of business affairs.
Lassen said construction of the UC addition began in August of 2006. Due to extensive rainfall and other unforeseen delays the project has taken longer than expected. However, the “quality first” project is scheduled to be complete within the fall semester.
“One piece is really missing if you are really interested in having an active student life on campus,” Lassen said. “All across the country there’s almost an arms race in University Centers … our University Center is clearly outdated … it was cool 20 years ago, but now you’re a little bit embarrassed to be there.”
After the completion of the UC addition, the older section of the building will be closed off for a complete renovation of its interior and main entrance.
“It will be on parallel with all the best schools in the state certainly, and in the country to a large degree,” Lassen said.
For such convenient amenities, students elected to pay a $100 per semester fee to help pay the interest of the combined construction costs, he said.
Lassen said the addition will consist of 37,000 gross square feet of new construction, while the existing building is 68,000 square feet, making the combined center more conducive to the growing university.
“UT Tyler is transitioning from being a commuter school for adults to being an important niche residential campus for the UT system,” Lassen said.
Plans for the three-story addition include a two-story dining space with a glass exterior wall, a themed caf?, multiple food vendors, offices and a multi-purpose meeting area with removable room dividers.
Whereas the plan for the renovated UC, scheduled to be complete in 2010, includes a two-story bookstore, two high-quality fast food vendors, increased office space and places for students to relax.
“When we’re finished with that, you won’t tell that there was an add-on, it will be a very large beautiful facility that not only students here, but our faculty and staff, and in fact, community members will really enjoy coming and experiencing,” Lassen said.
He said an important feature about the new UC plan is availability for relaxing spaces where not only students can congregate, but can have interaction with professors in a casual environment for individual instruction, rather than formal offices.
“These are dedicated professionals who have one role to play inside the classroom, but they are very eager and anxious to help students one-on-one and it’s incumbent on us to provide those kinds of spaces for that interaction to happen,” Lassen said.
Other construction projects include a new art studio scheduled for completion within a year and a half to two years. A 300 person capacity auditorium is also on the construction schedule. The mid-size auditorium is planned for movie showings, distinguished lecturers and other events conducive to the size of the space, Lassen said.
Renovation is currently ongoing in the Hudnall-Pirtle-Roosth Building and Sciences Building.
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