Student Fitness Center expansion, Vadalabene Center rennovation begin
250 parking spaces blocked off for construction
Kenneth Long
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
The Student Fitness Center expansion project and renovation to the Vadalabene Center began Monday, closing off certain sections of the SFC and many of the entrances and parking spaces around the buildings.
The south and east building entrances will remain open, but all others will be fenced off because of the construction.
Director of Administrative Services Robert Vanzo said 300 spaces would be available for students parking by the SFC.
"Currently, anyone with a red permit can park across the street," Vanzo said. "It shouldn't be too bad for the summer."
Vanzo said the number of brown permits will decrease for fall because of the loss of 250 parking spaces in the lot.
Assistant Director of Campus Recreation David Hagedorn said parking lot 11 by the Early Childhood Center and parking lot 12 across the street from the VC entrance will still be available for parking.
"There will be a good number of spaces in the brown lot, but immediate entrances will be closed," Hagedorn said.
Renovation on the VC, an estimated $6 million project, will be mainly focused on the basketball court areas, including raising up side courts and installing new restrooms, referee and visiting team locker rooms and storage rooms.
The two-level courts will be surrounded by new bleachers that connect between levels. Hagedorn said the ultimate number of seats, as well as premium fold-down seats, will increase and give the court a more "full-bowl" look.
"(The old) bleachers were at the end of their lifespan," Hagedorn said. "We noticed they were starting to break down during our safety inspections."
Hagedorn said construction on the main gym is expected to continue until mid-October, finishing in time for basketball season,
"We hope to make as little an impact on sports schedules as possible," Hagedorn said.
The contractors for the renovations were helpful in keeping the project sustainability-minded, reusing some of the old materials in construction, Hagedorn said. This included keeping the original wood flooring for some of the locker rooms and offices.
The south and east building entrances will remain open, but all others will be fenced off because of the construction.
Director of Administrative Services Robert Vanzo said 300 spaces would be available for students parking by the SFC.
"Currently, anyone with a red permit can park across the street," Vanzo said. "It shouldn't be too bad for the summer."
Vanzo said the number of brown permits will decrease for fall because of the loss of 250 parking spaces in the lot.
Assistant Director of Campus Recreation David Hagedorn said parking lot 11 by the Early Childhood Center and parking lot 12 across the street from the VC entrance will still be available for parking.
"There will be a good number of spaces in the brown lot, but immediate entrances will be closed," Hagedorn said.
Renovation on the VC, an estimated $6 million project, will be mainly focused on the basketball court areas, including raising up side courts and installing new restrooms, referee and visiting team locker rooms and storage rooms.
The two-level courts will be surrounded by new bleachers that connect between levels. Hagedorn said the ultimate number of seats, as well as premium fold-down seats, will increase and give the court a more "full-bowl" look.
"(The old) bleachers were at the end of their lifespan," Hagedorn said. "We noticed they were starting to break down during our safety inspections."
Hagedorn said construction on the main gym is expected to continue until mid-October, finishing in time for basketball season,
"We hope to make as little an impact on sports schedules as possible," Hagedorn said.
The contractors for the renovations were helpful in keeping the project sustainability-minded, reusing some of the old materials in construction, Hagedorn said. This included keeping the original wood flooring for some of the locker rooms and offices.
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