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Summer Renovations Planned for Campus

May 11, 2010--Many areas of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus are receiving facelifts as construction and renovation projects get underway for summer 2010.

The most noticeable project this summer will be the steam conduit replacement project. Heating pipes between the Agriculture Science building and Stratton Hall will be replaced along with pipes from the University Center to Cascade Avenue and pipes between Hagstead Hall and South Hall will also be replaced.

The replacement process will involve digging up the pipes (and at some times the street), replacing the piping, encasing the pipes in cement and other materials to make it more efficient, and finally restoring the site’s natural features.

The new piping is more efficient and will be replacing pipes on campus with the highest failure rate. The western portion of campus will be without hot water and heating during the summer months but electric generators should produce enough electricity to power hot water in buildings as necessary. The University Center and east residence halls will not have hot water or heat turned off. The steam conduit replacement project will begin May 17 and will be performed in portions throughout the summer months.

Various sidewalks, streets, and parking lots will also be resurfaced this summer and the North Hall step replacement project will be finishing up this summer. Much of the 14-year-old carpeting on the main floor of Davee Library will be replaced. The carpet is falling apart, which can be a safety hazard according to UWRF Facilities Management.

The UW-River Falls Foundation is also continuing a fundraising project to re-landscape the Melvin Wall Amphitheatre. The first batch of trees was picked up earlier this month and the landscaping will be an ongoing process this summer.

The former University Communications office in Room 24 South Hall will be remodeled into four or five offices for the College of Business and Economics and the Veteran’s Affairs Office. The University Communications office moved recently to North Hall.

Additional exit doors will be added to the Robert P. Knowles Physical Education and Recreation Center in order to increase allowed occupancy for events such as commencement. Rodli Hall will also have the two ground floor bathrooms replaced in order to allow classroom space to be utilized.

According to Mike Stifter, director of Facilities Management, this summer’s improvements will total nearly $6 million.

“The funding sources vary from campus to state resources,” says Stifter. “We appreciate the campus’s patience during this time of the year and we hope students return to an even better campus by fall semester.”

For more information, contact Stifter at 715-425-3820.

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