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| Bankruptcy, architectural problems further delays |
By David Forbes
Senior Staff Writer |
 Construction
at several areas in the center of campus is behind schedule, making
travel more difficult.
Building projects, including the solarium on Plemmons Student Union
and the University Bookstore construction, are running behind due
to a variety of problems, including the bankruptcy of one of the
mechanical contractors, said Clyde D. Robbins, director of design
and construction.
“We’re behind schedule on the student union and the bookstore,
and we have very little leverage, these are low-bid contractors,”
Robbins said.
Robbins said one of the problems was that a mechanical contractor
working on the solarium project had gone bankrupt, delaying construction
of several other parts of the project.
This is not the first time Appalachian State University has faced
this problem.
Last year a contractor working on the Living-Learning Center went
bankrupt, causing delays.
Robbins said that a third party scheduler has been hired to figure
out ways to speed up construction, and that the solarium and student
union construction would hopefully be finished by January 2004 instead
of the current expected time of March.
The solarium was originally scheduled to be finished last November.
Currently, there are only three open entrances to the student union,
a problem that has been delaying traffic around campus.
“I think [the construction problems] are a huge inconvenience
to students and others that use this building. A common route for
students is to go to the post office and then to the union. You
can still do that, but it’s not as easy,” said David L.
Robertson, director of Student Programs. “This is one of the
worst examples of construction delays I’ve ever seen on campus.”
Construction on the post office is due to be completed in two weeks,
while the University Bookstore construction is scheduled to be finished
late 2004-05, according to information from the Office of Business
Affairs
A temporary sidewalk was supposed to be constructed by the beginning
of fall semester so students could access the back entrance to the
student union near Greenbriar Theatre, Robertson said.
Architecture problems delayed that project, which is supposed to
be complete within the next two weeks.
Student workers in the student union said they viewed the construction
as a minor inconvenience.
“I haven’t really had any problems, though it’s a
little difficult to get around sometimes. But this is my first year
here, so I was kind of expecting this,” said Laurin Robertson,
a freshman forensic science major who works in the Center for Student
Involvement and Leadership.
Patty Troxler, a freshman recreational management major who works
at the information desk, agreed.
“No, it’s not really a problem, but that’s only because
I haven’t been here that long. I can’t really compare
it to earlier,” Troxler said.
Construction around the post office affects postal employees.
“It makes things a little inconvenient, but they’d be
working in here anyway, but a lot of the construction hasn’t
really started yet,” said Mark Lunsford, a window clerk at
the post office. |
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