Orange cones, torn up roads, detours and sealed-off hallways — it’s construction season at the University of Idaho.
UI, with some help from the state, is making several renovations around campus including classroom renovations, building repairs and street repairs.
Brian Johnson, assistant vice president of Facilities at UI, outlined many of the projects.
“Many of the projects are visible, while there are some that aren’t,” Johnson said.
Among the less visible projects are ones students won’t see until they get onto campus next fall.
“There are some classroom improvements going on in Renfrew Hall and the TLC,” Johnson said. “There are also some roof replacements that the state has funded over by the Swim Center and the Physical Education Building.”
Johnson said there are street improvements going along Deakin Avenue and Sixth Street. Many parts of the road are currently grated and will be paved and improved in the coming weeks.
Additionally, Jonson said there is a project going on at Guy Wicks Field.
“This project isn’t actually our project,” Johnson said. “It’s the city upgrading their sewer line to the treatment plant.”
The treatment plant sits on the edge of campus across from the Palouse Mall.
Johnson said that all of the city’s sewage runs into this pipe which makes its way to the treatment plant where it crosses the UI Campus on the way.
“So people see Guy Wicks Field torn up and a bunch of pipeline there, that’s the city’s effort to upgrade that sewer line,” Johnson said.
These projects are just a few of the many that will be happening during the rest of the summer.
“The state has some other projects that are slated to begin soon,” Johnson said.
The Agriculture Science Building will be getting a new roof, which will be funded by the state.
One of the big projects coming up is the renovation of the Nichols Building on campus, which is expected to run into the school year.
“We’ve had to relocate people and classes out of the Nichols Building for the fall semester,” Johnson said.
While the Nichols Building renovation could run into the start of school, many of the smaller projects could be completed before the start of fall semester. These projects include renovations to the second floor of the Student Union Building and the faculty lounge in Brink Hall.
Rick Clark can be reached at [email protected]