Underground freshmen facility might not open until spring 2002 instead of next fall

Construction of the ILC, originally slated for completion next May, is more than two months behind schedule and will likely not be completed in time for freshmen to use next fall, UA construction officials said yesterday.

Brian Dolan, University of Arizona construction project manager for the Integrated Learning Center, said a few surprises along with the complexity of the project are the primary causes behind the delay.

"This is the first time we've ever done something like this underground," he said following a one-hour tour attended by UA President Peter Likins and about 20 other people.

Instead of being open for the Fall 2001 semester as originally planned, Dolan said spring of 2002 is a more realistic estimate. Working in the center of campus during the school year and having limited access to the site - two points of construction entry - both helped create the delay, he said.

Dolan added that construction workers were also slowed down a little by an unknown pipe found during excavation and rain falloff from the Main Library.