Herty construction project in early stages

Over the past few weeks something has begun to stir at Herty Hall. Anybody passing by may see that construction equipment, signs and even a few workers have begun appearing around the building, along with what looks like excavation beginning in the parking lot adjacent to the building. All of the activity is in anticipation of the major construction project about to unravel at Herty Hall – a new 16,000 square foot annex.

The project is expected to span a 12-month period during which the gravel parking lot located next to Herty will be cleared and a new annex building built in its place. The facility is expected to help provide more class space to the already-crowded building. The initiative was first proposed six years ago and the project finally received the green light earlier this year from the state. While most view the project as a welcomed addition to the GCSU campus, the project isn’t without some setbacks.

“The project was halted by several budget cuts,” Associate Director for Business Planning and Construction Services Rick Ruark said. “But the project is finally off the ground and in motion.”

Currently, the project is in the infrastructure planning phase, which will plan around utilities and the “under the hood” aspects of the new addition to Herty. When completed, the facility should add additional classroom space and dry labs to the growing astronomy, biology, and chemistry departments which are housed there. Additionally, an observatory for the astronomy department will be built on the roof of the new building, providing a field lab for astronomy students.

“Along with the academic additions, there will be a new elevator being put into the annex,” add Ruark with a chuckle. “I’m sure a lot of students will be happy about that as well”.

Expected major construction on Herty should begin in the coming months, according to officials.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 30 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry