Tag Archives: construction

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE construction update

Significant pre-construction activity is underway relative to the STEM@DRAKE project. At the Holiday Breakfast on Thursday, members of the campus community saw the latest building renderings and floor plans. There is excitement and appreciation for the inclusion of gender-neutral bathrooms and dedicated lactation rooms in both buildings.

Members of Drake’s Grounds Department—Aaron Harpold and Jeff Bosworth —were on hand to discuss how the project will affect trees. Attendees voted on the type of trees they would like to see planted as part of the effort to replace nearly double the number of trees that will be lost during construction. While removing trees is a difficult reality of construction, tremendous effort is being dedicated to a tree plan that will ensure both replacement and reclamation as part of the project. Watch for more details in coming weeks on this and other aspects of the STEM@DRAKE project.

 —Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Scheduled electrical shutdowns

On Nov. 25, a scheduled electrical shutdown will occur from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., affecting the following buildings: The Knapp Center, Fieldhouse, Bell Center, and Shivers Basketball Practice Facility. This scheduled shutdown is part of the electrical project that needs to be completed prior to the construction of the new School of Education/Computer Science and Mathematics Building and the new Science Connector Building.

Another scheduled electrical shutdown will occur on Nov. 27, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., affecting the Fine Arts Center and Olin Hall. This scheduled shutdown is a routine shutdown that occurs ever year the day after Thanksgiving. This allows Facilities Services to clean the electrical transformer on campus.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations & Support Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Construction update

The pre-construction project to move an electrical distribution line and to move a communication duct is nearly complete; this project needed to be completed prior to construction of the new Science Connector Building and the new School of Education. A portion of sidewalk is currently closed on the west side of 27th Street, just east of Medbury Hall. This sidewalk should be poured early next week. The project is approximately two weeks ahead of schedule. The construction will continue for the next week or two in a grassy area between Medbury and Jewett Hall parking lot, but will not close any sidewalk.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations and Support Services

Campus Announcements Archive

Sidewalk closure

While a new roof is installed on the Bell Center gym, the sidewalk at the corner of 27th Street and Clark Street (next to the north side of the Bell Center) to the north entrance of The Knapp Center will be closed during business hours starting today, Oct. 26. The sidewalk will be closed each morning at approximately 7 a.m. and re-open at about 5 p.m. This project will take approximately three weeks depending on the weather. Please use the sidewalk on the north side of Clark Street.

—Submitted by Jolene Schmidt, Director, Operations and Support Services

Strategic Updates Archive

Save the Date: STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House

Plan to attend the first STEM@DRAKE Construction Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Parents Hall South, Olmsted Center. Learn more about plans for construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility as well as the new Science Connector building. Construction team members and members of the University Steering Team will be on hand to answer questions. A brief project overview will be presented at 3:15 and 4 p.m., but you can come anytime to learn more and visit with our team.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Campus Announcements Archive

Construction update

In anticipation of the construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls, several pre-construction steps are underway. You will start to see activity near the future construction site as work begins to relocate electrical and communication infrastructure. This will require digging and trench work, which will be noticeable to those in and around the area. We are focused on safety and security as well as minimizing disruption. With a project this size we know there will be a variety of things to work through, including significant digging, construction noise, and altered pathways. Watch OnCampus and blueView for announcements about work schedules and locations. If at any time you have questions or concerns please contact Venessa Macro at 271-3962 or Jolene Schmidt at 271-3957.

Later this fall, there will be additional opportunities to learn more about the project through in-person meetings and online resources.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

STEM@DRAKE construction update

In June, the Board of Trustees authorized the start of pre-construction work on the next phase of the STEM@DRAKE project. In anticipation of the construction of the School of Education and Math and Computer Science facility and the new Science Connector building between Olin and Fitch Halls, several pre-construction steps are underway. Here are some highlights from recent activity:

  • After a competitive bid process, Weitz was chosen as the contractor. A group including Board of Trustees members and steering team members Joe Lenz, Jan McMahill, Renae Chestnut, Keith Summerville, Teresa Krejci, Venessa Macro, and Jolene Schmidt interviewed five contractors.
  • You will start to see some activity near the future construction site. Electrical and communication infrastructure will need to be relocated, which will require some trench work near Medbury and Olin. Plans and schedules for this work are under development and will be shared as soon as they are final. Watch blueView and OnCampus for more information.
  • The transition of 27th Street to Drake-owned property is complete. Parking on the east side of the street is commuter parking, requiring a commuter permit. The west side of the street is a fire lane. Once construction begins it is likely that 27th Street will close.

In the coming weeks, additional information and project timeline information will be finalized and shared. Soon after the October Board of Trustees meeting, we are planning for additional opportunities to learn more about the project through in-person meetings and online resources.

—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer

Strategic Updates Archive

Harvey Ingham renovation

Our major capital project this summer was the completion of the renovation of Harvey Ingham Hall. It was our goal to have the renovation completed in time for the start of fall semester classes. We came close, but due to delays beyond our control, some classrooms and labs will not be available until the second week of classes. As a consequence, we have relocated those classes to alternate spaces, and we apologize to those affected by the consequent inconvenience and confusion.

We also want to invite you to an open house in Harvey Ingham on Friday, Sept. 4, at 3–4:30 p.m. so you can see all of the changes for yourself.

The scope of work included the reconfiguration of the north side of the second floor to update (and create) teaching and research labs, instrument rooms, and glassware storage; the creation of a small classroom on the first floor; and the complete reconfiguration of the garden level, with a new classroom, laboratory, collaboration space, and conference room, as well as new offices. In addition, restrooms were added to each floor and the stairwells refurbished. Due to the addition of new rooms and the requirements of meeting fire code, every room in Harvey Ingham has been renumbered.

We want to extend gratitude and congratulations to a host of folks across campus who made this project a success. First, I want to thank the faculty and staff in Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy/Health Sciences for their patience and cooperation—due to the extensive renovations, Harvey Ingham was closed for the entire summer, so faculty and classes were relocated to other buildings. Jolene Schmidt and Mark Chambers were masterful in keeping the project and the contractors on schedule (or as close to it as possible), despite delays in securing permits from the City of Des Moines. Brad Toussaint and his Drake Technology Services crew have been heroic, working nights and weekends, installing technology in classrooms, labs, and offices. The Office of Student Records, likewise, have been resourceful, not only in entering the new room numbers into the system but also working with deans Summerville and Chesnut and other college offices to find alternative spaces for every class and lab scheduled in Harvey Ingham.

Thanks to everyone’s efforts, Harvey Ingham, originally built in 1949, will soon have an entirely remodeled interior, ready for the next 50 years.

—Provost Joe Lenz

Campus Announcements Archive

27th Street on campus closed Aug. 13

As Drake prepares to take ownership of 27th Street (between Forest and Carpenter Avenues) and Carpenter Avenue (between 25th and 27th Streets), there will be no parking allowed on the west side of 27th Street starting Thursday, Aug. 13. Barricades will be in place on Thursday to prevent parking and to allow for curb painting. Please make other arrangements for parking your cars on the 13th.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 17, parking on the east side of the street will be considered commuter lot parking requiring a Drake University commuter permit. The west side of the street will be treated as a fire lane and no parking will be permitted. Look through the 27th Street FAQ for more information about these changes.

Submitted by Finance and Administration