Building ups and downs

Just about everywhere you look on campus, work of some kind is happening. Roofing projects will begin and end this summer for the CUB addition, Henderson Gym, the Steam Plant, and the Lehman Library. The area around the library will also have the lighting standardized and upgraded, and the library elevator will be improved.

Shippen Hall is getting new glass for the stairwells and main entrance areas plus new exterior doors in a month-long project.

Dauphin Humanities’ complete interior renovation is underway. It will include new floor and ceiling surfaces, new doors, windows, and restrooms. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems will be replaced, as will electrical, data, telephone, lighting, and alarms. The lecture hall on the ground floor will be converted into a film review space with theater seating and a larger screen. A small addition, to house the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office among other amenities will be on the quad side to the left of the entrance. Work began in April and should be finished next summer.

A number of small projects to upgrade and repair facilities are also ongoing during the more quiet summer months.

In various stages of completion: The work at Dauphin is just getting started as the interior is cleared out to make way for the upgrades; Henderson was one of four summer roofing projects; Starbucks is almost ready for business in Erza Lehman Library; and the Student Fitness Center is taking shape.

Getting a face lift

Old Main is looking different these days as a summer project is underway. Probably the most dramatic change is seeing the building without the cupola. The cupola was removed in two steps, first the dome, then the square support section and will be replaced after other parts of the project are complete. All the front porches including the main entrance will be replaced. As the oldest building on campus and designated historical, the work has been approved by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to ensure the work and materials satisfy historical requirements. The new materials are expected to be easier to maintain. For the duration, the front entrance and the traffic circle will be closed. The project is expected to be completed by late October.

Many watched from a safe distance as the cupola came down. The porches will also be replaced as part of the project.