Issue date: 2/9/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Sean Roberts/Alestle David Aguilar, junior biology major from Romeoville, walks by the Science Building and around the construction that has become somewhat of a nuisance.

Construction projects for the Science Building, that are changing the set up of Parking Lot E, are now affecting those who walk to and from the brown lot and the Metcalf Theater.

The new building and renovations to the old building are scheduled to finish by 2013, according to Bob Washburn, director of Facilities Management.

There are three phases to the science building's construction, according to Washburn: the sidewalk, the new building and the renovation to the old Science Building. The sidewalk is scheduled to be finished by next March, the new building should be finished by the spring of 2012 and the renovations should be done by the fall of 2013.

The sidewalk that leads from the brown lot as well as the sidewalk near the Science Building is blocked by a fence. There are people who have been taking shortcuts to get to their destination and the administration is looking for safer, alternative routes, according to Washburn.

"The closing of the walkway had not been talked about," Washburn said. "We didn't know there was that much foot traffic."

Washburn also said Facilities Management is considering the option of building a bridge near the bike trail to allow students easier access.

A new entrance to Lot E is planned from the west part of the parking lot. There was another evaluation done on the parking lot and the meters near the Engineering Building will be removed, according to Washburn.

Emeritus Theater and Dance professor Otis Sweezey said he is glad the science department is getting a new building and the location may be good for them, but there should have been more thought when planning the construction.

"The thing that bothered me and most people is they didn't think," Sweezey said. "They didn't think about the impact on people."

Senior mass communications major Whitney Hamilton of St. Charles, Mo., said she received a $75 ticket for parking in Lot E at the spots where the meters used to be. According to Hamilton, there were no signs or cones letting people know there was no available parking, and she said the administration should have done a better job of letting people know where they could or could not park. She also said there were cars parked in the spaces that did not have the proper hangtags and did not have tickets on them.

"If you're not paying attention, then you don't notice," Hamilton said. "It was negligence on their part."

Since that time, Parking Services and Facilities Management have provided signs and fences to rope off areas that no longer serve as parking spaces.

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