Summer Campus Construction Season Set To Begin

A number of infrastructure construction projects and a major building demolition will be taking place across campus this summer.

Beginning May 7, the tunnel between the central heating plant behind Lot E (at Thurstin Avenue) and Shatzel Hall will be renovated and rehabilitated. Portions of Lot E will be temporarily closed at times as the work progresses. Thurstin Avenue will have no through traffic between Court and Pike streets for six weeks, from May 22-July 2, but access will be maintained to the Administration Building loading dock drive and the entrance drive to Lot 7 at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. The entire project completion is expected mid-to late July.

Also on May 7, the University’s Electrical Distribution Upgrade Project that began last summer will resume. The project will ultimately result in a much improved and more reliable campus electrical/power distribution system. Periodic scheduled electrical shutdowns to various buildings will occur as the work progresses. Affected will be Shatzel Hall, the Administration Building, Prout Chapel and Founders Hall. Building occupants and the campus community will be notified before each shutdown so that precautions such as turning off electrical equipment can be taken. The project will be completed by the end of June.

On May 14, the pedestrian walkway from just north of the Student Union to the Psychology Building on the north side of campus will be partially blocked at times for the installation of a replacement gas line serving the sciences buildings: Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Overman Hall, Life Sciences and Psychology. The work will involve limited excavation and should be completed by mid-June.

This summer also sees the demolition of Harshman residence hall, scheduled to commence shortly after May 14. Construction fencing will be erected around the site as preparatory work begins for the actual demolition, which is anticipated to begin shortly thereafter and take until mid-August. The drive north of Harshman, along with parking lots 28, 29 and 30, will be closed for the duration of the project. With the eventual landscaping and restoration of the site, the work is anticipated to be finished in early November.

Further updates will be sent to campus as needed. Refer to the Campus Map and click on the Construction Layer to see specific building and project updates. The map will be updated and ready for viewing by Monday (April 30).

If you have further questions, please contact Bob Boucher, Senior Project Manager in the Office of Design and Construction, at rjbouch@bgsu.edu., or by phone at 419-372-7639.