According to the Department of Campus Facilities and Planning, the UA has an estimated daytime population of over 50,000, a number that could compete with a variety of urban centers.
Like a small city, these numbers must be constantly calculated and re-calculated in order to not only accommodate the current population base but to account for future expansion and growth.
During the summer months, the pace on campus slows to a fraction of the regular semester. However, many different projects continue through the sweltering Tucson heat.
Less traffic means more opportunity for construction of new facilities and the remodeling of already existing but somewhat outdated structures.
Many of the same designers and contractors are being used throughout various projects. Though the UA does not have contracts with these firms, they are selected on a qualification-based system.
“For all of our projects, we put out a request for qualifications and interested contractors and designers submit. This then goes to committee in order to evaluate the submitted proposals,” said Melissa Dryden, senior program coordinator with campus facilities and design. “It used to be that we would take the lowest bidder, but we have transitioned over to a qualification-based system.”
Ten different projects are currently underway, all of which are in various stages of completion or design.
On these projects alone, the projected budget totals more than $280 million.
The Women’s Plaza of Honor
The Women’s Plaza of Honor is an area dedicated to women who have made significant contributions to the history of Arizona or whose lives have somehow enriched the lives of others. It is sponsored by the women’s studies advisory council of the department of women’s studies, said Yolanda Broyles-Gonzalez, head of women’s studies.
Designed by Wheat Scharf Associates, Inc., and contracted by Sletten Construction, this project is in the final stages of completion, awaiting artist installations and donor inspection. Construction dates on this project were from December 2004 to May 2005, according to the department of facilities design and construction Web site.
Located on East University Boulevard between Centennial Hall and Haury Hall, this area consists of landscaping, lighting, various artistic pieces, and a computer kiosk. The budget for the project was $829,500 and funding was received through various private donors, according to the site.
“The project was very exciting and the construction went very well, a great collaborative effort,” Dryden said. “This project contained some interesting and unique designs that took some extra work, but they were able to do it.”
University Medical Center
Repaving the emergency center, dermatology and pain clinic parking lots at University Medical Center was scheduled to run from July 2005 through August 2005, but is currently on hold.
Parking and Transportation Services requested the design phase be completed because work may be completed at a later date after the other construction in the area is completed. The projected budget is $40,000, according to the Web site.
Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch building
The Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch building will use state-of-the-art technologies to support interdisciplinary molecular life-sciences research and house the Institute for Biomedical Science and Biomedical Technology.
Namesake Thomas W. Keating, UA alum and former owner of American Protective Services, is a member of the President’s Club, the UA Foundation Board of Directors, and the Campaign Arizona Leadership team.
Keating has donated more than $10 million, and he will also be serving as the chairman of the Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology business advisory board.
The building itself was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership and contracted through Gilbane Building Company, and is currently a work in progress, Dryden said.
Although the project is not scheduled for completion until February 2006, the steel work, concrete superstructure, and piping and ducts through the fifth floor have all been completed, according to the Web site.
“It is a very large building, especially with two other large buildings in the immediate vicinity, which makes things quite complex,” Dryden said. “We have been trying to make sure that no excessive strain is placed on the area in regards to traffic and such, but everything is going according to schedule.”
Currently, the primary duct banks, switchgear, and generator work is in progress. This massive facility near UMC at East Helen Street and North Cherry Avenue still has a long way to go prior to occupancy. This facility has a projected budget of more than $65.5 million, according to the Web site.
Medical Research building
Sharing the same construction site with the Keating building will be the new Medical Research building.
The building will serve as an interdisciplinary lab facility and will house office space for 48 faculty members from six primary areas as well as various lab spaces, according to the facilities and planning Web site.
This structure was also designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, but contracted to Hensel Phelps constructions for a projected budget of more than $54.3 million.
Concrete and steel superstructure work is finished, with drywall, generators, and air handlers in progress. The estimated date of completion is scheduled for sometime in June 2006, according to the Web site.
Funding for the adjoining buildings came primarily from a partial state appropriation, private donations, and general fund appropriations, Dryden said.
“The Medical Research and Thomas Keating buildings will be funded primarily by House Bill 2529, a projects and research infrastructure bill passed by the house 2 years ago,” said Dick Roberts, assistant vice president and budget director. “These payments start coming in from the state in fiscal year 07-08.”
Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health
In August 2005, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health will be getting a new home that will consolidate instructional facilities from the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Public Health.
Roy P. Drachman Hall will be the new location for the College of Public Health. It is located across from the Arizona Health Science Center between East Mabel Street and East Helen Street.
Containing classrooms, computer labs, and conference rooms, this facility will allow these three colleges a better opportunity to expand their programs in a continuing effort to help accommodate for the shortage of health care professionals nationwide.
“Right now we are spread out over 22 different locations. As a college, it makes things really tough,” said Vicki Gaubeca, director of public affairs at the college of public health. “Everyone being at one will really enable us to collaborate better and help us accomplish our goals.”
Drachman was a native of Tucson and made countless contributions throughout his life toward advancing the quality of the UA.
With the completion of the roof and brickwork, only the metal paneling, windows, and sunshades remain until the facility is completed. With a projected budget of $30 million, these funds again come from funding allocations, private donations, and system revenue bonds, according to the Web site.
Roberts explained that because Drachman Hall was a non-research facility, it would be funded differently.
“This building is both gift- and bond-funded. The debt service on the bonds will be repaid using retained tuitions,” Roberts said.
Parking
Parking and Transportation Services wants to improve the quality of lots located at East Mabel Street, East Helen Street, North Tyndall Avenue, North Highland Avenue, and East Sixth Street before school begins in August.
Scheduled between July 2005 and September 2005, no bids were received from any contractors for the $402,000 job. Other contractors are being sought in order to have completion before fall semester, Dryden said.
Meinel Optical Sciences Building
The Meinel Optical Sciences Building is being expanded in order to centralize all programs into one location as a way of improving both research and instructional programs.
The new College of Optical Science located at 1630 E. University Blvd. is known in both national and international circles as a leader in optical sciences research.
Redesigned by Richard & Bauer Architecture and contracted to Lloyd Construction Co. Inc., occupancy should occur in September 2005.
The building expansion is 90 percent complete and work is still continuing on both the mechanical and electrical systems. The project budget is $17.2 million according to the Web site.
The Meinel Optics expansion is being funded by state a referendum known as proposition 301, or the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) which covers about 60 percent of costs, and grant contract work conducted by the college, covering 40 percent of costs, Roberts said
Highland Avenue Garage
Slightly behind its projected schedule of June 2004 to June 2005, the new Highland Avenue parking garage located on North Vine Street and East Helen Street should be ready for use as of fall semester.
The $18 million, 1,500 parking-space structure will serve the Arizona Health Sciences Center and northeast area of campus in order to fill parking demands much-needed because of increased traffic, according to the Web site.
Structural work has been completed and work continues to progress on drainage, hardware, landscape, electrical, plumbing and elevators. The parking and traffic control equipment has been ordered and PTS is currently awaiting delivery of these items for installation, according to the Web site.
Chemistry
The chemistry building is being expanded in order to house additional office space for department of chemistry personnel as well as additional research laboratories.
“It will really help us by providing cutting-edge technologies that we want to build toward,” said Susan Richards, assistant chemistry department head. “We will have special facilities dedicated toward nanotechnology and other leading areas of chemical science.”
At this time, construction is 46 percent complete with a finished building structure and installed air handler units. The exterior skin is in progress. The move-in date is scheduled for May 2006, according to the Web site.
The Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership again takes credit for design and Hensel Phelps Construction Co. is the contractor of this $46.1 million expansion project.
Arizona State Museum Collection
At the Arizona State Museum, a 20,000 piece ceramic vessel collection representing almost all native cultures of the Southwest is getting some much needed attention.
The ceramic preservation project taking place from May 2005 until July 2006 will allow museum staff to properly care for and display these historic pieces.
A new, secure climate-controlled vault is being installed in order to provide better long-term protection, an artifact conservation laboratory for maintenance, and a new showcase area for display purposes, according to the Web site.
Design was done by Burns and Wald-Hopkins Architects and construction is contracted by Lloyd Construction Company on this $2.5 million project.
Cost
The Medical Research, Thomas W. Keating Bioresearch, Meinel Optical Sciences, Roy P. Drachman, and Chemistry buildings are not only time-consuming, but costly as well.
“It is no doubt that all of these projects will be an asset to the UA,” Roberts said. “We have known for a long time that the primary limiting factor in the grant and contracting environment has been space, not intellectual capacity.”
In addition to the ten major projects taking place this summer, a multitude of other projects are either being considered, are already in the design phase, or have just not had a date set for construction and are being listed as “to be announced” on the Department of Facilities Design and Construction Web site.
More than $150 million is being projected to cover the costs of the remaining projects.
Details on all campus construction projects and estimated budgets can be obtained from the Department of Facilities Design and Construction Web site at http://www.fdc.arizona.edu/Project/projectupdate.cfm.