Various construction projects from the summer have continued into the fall semester, with plans for completion by the end of the term.

Projects include demolition of the pool at the Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences (HPESS) Building and remodeling of the student lounge on the second floor of the Education/Communication Building.

The decision to tear down the pool at the HPESS Building was made due to issues with mold. 

“Repairs on the pool became very expensive,” said Amanda Wheeler Gryffin, chair of HPESS. “It was deemed that it was probably best to go ahead and close it down, rather than spend the money for all the repairs that it would need.”

Interior work on the pool, such as shutting down piping and gas lines, began at the start of summer. Wheeler Gryffin said the building came down closer to the end of summer. 

Once demolition is complete, the space will be used as a green area. 

“We’re really excited about that, because the green space there, with it not being a parking lot, not being turned into a new building or anything like that, gives us an opportunity to utilize that space for our department.”

The entire project is to be completed in November. 

The HPESS Building is also receiving some cosmetic updates, as well as getting new outdoor seating. The seating will replace the berms, which are raised barriers made of compacted soil used to vertically separate slopes, that surround the building. 

These updates are projected to be completed by the end of the semester. 

Wheeler Gryffin added that students had not been affected much by the construction, as repair crews were scheduled based on when classes were in session.

“There may have been a few times where they started up before classes were complete for the day or something like that. We’ve been very fortunate that they’ve worked with us to try and make sure we’re not disrupting classes,” Wheeler Gryffin said. 

Also under construction is the lounge on the second floor of the Education/Communications Building. Lance Bryant, associate dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science, said the lounge had not been renovated since the building was constructed. 

Construction started at the beginning of the summer and is to be completed within the next month. 

“It’s going to bring things up to a place where we hope that the students will be inviting for the students and the students will want to hang out,” Bryant said. “It’s just more modern and more appealing to the student body.”

The patio connected to the lounge has also been worked on. The wood on the picnic tables has been replaced and new lighting will be installed.

“It’s going to be more inviting, there’s going to be an indoor/outdoor element and we are doing things on the outdoor patio space to make that inviting. We have furniture and outdoor seating that complements the things that they’re doing on the inside of the building,” Bryant said. 

Despite the lounge being closed, vending machines are available for use. 

There are no plans for any more renovations in the Education/Communications Building at this time.

Facilities Management did not respond for an interview.

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