Students, faculty and architects gathered Wednesday morning to discuss plans for the University’s first multilevel parking garage.
After several months of meetings and compromises with the Women’s Center and African American Cultural Center, the final concept plans have been sent to contractors. The proposed plans call for a five-level parking garage, a two-level bookstore and construction of a new Women’s Center and AACC.
Emmett David, director of facility development, led the core committee in discussion about the updated concept plans. The core committee consists of University representatives, state legislators, students and representatives from the Women’s Center and AACC.
The garage will replace Highland Dining Hall when construction begins in January 2009. David said Highland will be demolished and raised for construction once Pentagon Dining Hall renovations are complete. The original concept study proposed a garage with a 750-car holding capacity. The new plan proposes a garage with an 825-car holding capacity. The 55,000 square-foot bookstore will be located adjacent to the garage.
The Women’s Center and AACC will remain on Highland Road and Raphael Semmes Road but will be rebuilt behind the garage. The new AACC will be 4,500 square feet, an increase from the current 1,800 square-foot building. The Women’s Center can also expect to expand from 2,735 square feet to 4,000 square feet. David said the concepts have not been finalized. He said The Lemoine Company, LLC is expected to provide estimates for the entire facility in the next three to four weeks.
“Once we decide if it is economically feasible, we will tear the two centers down and incorporate them into the garage,” he said.
The budget for the garage and bookstore is approximately $24 million, and the budget for the two centers is $1.5 million. David said if the estimates are more than the allowed budget, the centers will remain in their present location and the scope of the parking garage will be reduced.
Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation said funds for the project will come from a state bond issue that the University will pay back.
“We will use money from visitors who use the garage and money from increased parking permit fees,” Graham said.
David said if the estimates fall within the University budget, the design plans will be finalized and go to bid in 11 months.
“We won’t know the firm costs until it goes to bid,” he said. “We know we still have work to do on the exterior elevation plans before then.”
The garage is expected to reflect the University’s historic architectural nomenclature, and the facility scale will be in accordance with University standards and guidelines. David said the facility will be energy efficient and serve as an integral part of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation’s 2005 Master Parking Plan.
“The garage will act as a gateway to the walking campus,” he said. “The vision of having students, faculty and guests park in the garage, stop at the bookstore for some coffee and then go to the welcoming center [the Union] is exciting.”
Committee member and State Sen. Donald Cravins, served as chairman for the AACC from 1993 to 1994. Cravins said he is hopeful about the plans.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” Cravins said. I am excited the University looks to be serious about building a new African American Cultural Center, but I still want to talk to more students about their opinion.”
Student Government President Cassie Alsfeld attended the meeting and expressed concerns about the layout plans. Alsfeld said she understands why some students have mixed opinions about the proposals.
“Students love the home feel you get when you go into the African American [Culture] Center,” she said. “It is a place for people to come and relax.”
But Alsfeld said for the University to reach the national level of programming, expansions are necessary.
“I understand the need for an intimate setting, but the University must grow and expand for programs,” she said. “It is vital we bring these floor plans to the students.”
Derrick Petit, political science and history senior on the core committee, voiced concerns about the proposed location for the AACC behind the garage. Petit said it is important for the center to remain an autonomous space.
“We want the center to stand out as much as possible from the garage,” he said. “We want students to be assured the center will not blend in with the garage.”
Chaunda Allen, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said it is the responsibility of the AACC to educate students about the center’s new location.
“Some of this will have to be us being proactive to educate students about where the building will be located,” Allen said. “I think the location next to the courtyard will work well for the center in the long run.”
Marco Barker, assistant to vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, said he favors the plans because they create more spaces within the center for discussion.
“Now, the reception center doesn’t have to be the place where everything happens,” Barker said. “With the new plans, there will be more rooms for dialogue and meetings to happen.”
Sheri Thompson, planning and communications officer for Information Technology Services, said she favors the plans.
“The bottom line is that the plans are better than what the center currently has,” she said. “It’s definitely an evolution and is a long way from the original third floor location in Hatcher Hall.”
Katrice Albert, vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, requested written recommendations from the core committees before the close of the semester, which is Dec. 21, to move forward with the plans. Albert said the recommendations are necessary to present the plans to the town hall next semester.
“Next semester, Emmett [David] will go to the larger institutions such as the student senate, faculty senate, Women’s and Gender Studies and so forth to present the plans,” she said. “Then we can present this to the chancellor.”
—-Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]