LaFortune Student Center entrance
The end of the academic year has ushered in several construction and renewal projects across the University.
From roof repairs to basement waterproofing and new construction to renovations, more than a dozen new work zones will pop up across campus. Most of the projects are scheduled to be complete by the start of the fall 2016 semester, according to Doug Schlagel, director of construction and quality assurance in Planning, Design and Construction Department.
“While there is lots of exciting growth and construction activity surrounding our major projects like the two new residence halls or the Campus Crossroads Project, it is also important to the University that we take the time to care for our existing buildings to ensure their longevity for generations of Notre Dame students to come,” said Schlagel.
Schlagel identified six key projects that will impact access to certain campus buildings, walkways and roads:
• LaFortune Student Center west entry reconstruction
• Hesburgh Library east entrance closure
• Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering basement waterproofing
• Main Building stair rail
replacement
• Notre Dame Stadium B Parking Lot reconstruction
• Walsh Hall selective renovation
At LaFortune, the west entry porch will be reconstructed, including the entrances to the lower and first-floor levels. The south and east entrances on the lower level will remain open, and the first floor will still be accessible from the north, south and east. Signs will be posted around and throughout the building to help guide people as they enter or exit the student center.
The Hesburgh Library’s east entrance will be closed due to construction associated with the concourse renovation. Au Bon Pain will remain open throughout the concourse renovation, but the Carey Auditorium will be closed. Visitors to the library and Au Bon Pain customers should use the north, south and west entrances. Sidewalks around the library will remain open during the project.
The stair handrail system in the southeast stairway of the Main Building will be replaced. The work will be conducted during night shifts to avoid disruptions to building offices during the day, and the southeast stairway, which is not a required means of egress, will be closed. A staging area will be established in the northeast entrance vestibule on the first floor. The northeast entrance, where the mailboxes are located, will be closed during the project; however, all other entrances to the building will remain open. The mailboxes will be temporarily relocated to the northwest vestibule.
The installation of a basement waterproofing system in Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering will result in the temporary closure of walkways around the building. The project will be completed in two stages to maintain pedestrian pathways between Fitzpatrick Hall, the Snite Museum, DeBartolo Hall and the South Quad at all times. Phase 1 of the project will close the south walkways leading up to the building. In late June, the worksite will shift to the east side of the building for Phase 2. Signs will be posted to help pedestrians navigate the construction zones.
The parking lots south of Notre Dame Stadium will be reconstructed in phases during the next two years, and a geothermal well field will be installed under the north section of the lots. The work is being done in phases in order to lessen the loss of parking to campus. The parking lot located between Holy Cross Drive and the Notre Dame Sculpture Park will be reconstructed from mid-May through early July. The parking lot immediately east of Legends will be closed beginning in mid-May for geothermal well field installation and will reopen in mid-August. From early July through mid-August, a portion of the parking lot just north of Holy Cross Drive will also be closed for geothermal well field installation.
Walsh Hall will undergo extensive yearlong renovations, including window replacement and interior reconstruction. Fencing will be in place intermittently throughout the renovation project when work impacts pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
The reduced campus population in the months between Commencement and the start of the fall semester makes it easier for workers to schedule and complete a variety of needed maintenance, repair and expansion activities each year. “We appreciate the patience of the students, faculty and staff who will be studying and working here this summer. We realize that even small projects can cause significant disruptions to campus life, so we have worked hard to minimize the impact of these repairs to the Notre Dame community,” Schlagel said.Other new projects expected to be completed by late August include roof maintenance at Corby Hall, the Early Childhood Development Center and Warren Golf Course Clubhouse; masonry maintenance and repairs at Ryan Hall; and interior renovations at Knott Hall.
For more news and information regarding all construction activity on campus, please visit construction.nd.edu and look for weekly updates in TheWeek@ND email newsletter.