How 'bout that parking lot?

You can’t miss it. Once one of the biggest asphalt stretches on campus, right next to the UAA/APU Consortium Library. Only right now, it’s half a field of dirt with big yellow machinery rolling around on it. Look a little closer and you’ll see the beginnings of a new diagonal walkway that will make crossing this parking lot to the CPISB and other east side buildings easier and safer.

New sidewalk connecting Library and CPISB.

So, did we just forget school was starting Aug. 27? No-o-o-o-t exactly. We weren’t able to resolve design issues for the project until July and really debated whether to launch it this year or hold off. We knew we’d be pushing the end-of-summer, start-of-the semester schedule, but knowing we had safety issues with the current layout, we decided to press ahead.

So, yes. It's late. But here's the good news: We're adding 14 additional parking spots to this lot.

 Crews at work before 8 a.m. Thursday.

So, this time of year, rain can be unpredictable. When it strikes, it can slow the concrete (sidewalk and curb) work down. It can also push you back in the queue waiting for asphalt. But we’ve finished the concrete work and today had almost two full crews out there, hustling on the job. We project the lot will be open within the next two weeks. Thank you for your patience.

One other parking lot item of note: When you renovate a big lot like this one, new municipal codes apply. Now, we provide green landscape space for rain and snow to re-absorb into the ground rather than puddle on the asphalt and flood storm drains. It’s the environmentally sound thing to do.

As director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, I’ll be back with updates on renovations in the Science Building, updates on the new Sports Arena construction, new labs we added to the Engineering Building, and how we retooled the space in PSB now that Nursing is moved over the HSB. We’ve got 70 projects — from design to construction — on our plates. It’s a lot to keep track of, but it’s work that will upgrade and enhance your campus.

-- John Faunce
Director, Facilities, Planning and Construction