By
Blake Smith
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Testing of fire alarms main reason for setback, officials say
Although multiple difficulties will delay completion of the new U of A Bookstore by nearly a month, the opening date of the building is not expected to change, a UA construction official said Monday.
Gilbert Davidson, assistant project manager for the new student union and bookstore, said crews had expected to meet next Tuesday's completion date, but now anticipate a Dec. 18 finish.
"There are just a number of things that caused the delay," Davidson said.
Testing of the fire alarm system and completion of the air handling system are not progressing as smoothly as anticipated, he added.
The delay is not good news for bookstore officials, who plan to be open for business in their new location by Jan. 2.
Frank Farias, director of the U of A Bookstore, said transitioning to a new location usually takes about six weeks, but now his employees will have to do the same work within a two-week period.
"It is really compressing the time for us," Farias said. "It will present a challenge."
He added that the critical date for the bookstore will come on Jan. 7, when many students will return to campus for the spring semester.
Farias said the existing bookstore could be used if the new facility is not completed in time for the start of the new semester.
"That is an option that we could still consider, but it is not the best alternative," he added.
Textbook shelves on the bottom floor of the bookstore have already been disassembled, and reinstalling them would be an unwelcome task.
Another alternative, if officials aren't able to transfer the entire inventory to the new building, is for the textbook department to open in the new facility, but keep the clothing and general books departments in the current building until they can be moved.
Construction crews are continuing work on the new facility this week when they will be completing brickwork and painting of stucco on the structure.
Davidson said completion of the exterior could come later this week or early next week.
Yesterday, an ad promoting the Jan. 2 opening of the new bookstore was pulled from the Arizona Daily Wildcat Web site.
