Project delays continue to hinder campus plans
Cassie Sloan
News Reporter
Last fall the fountain by Copeland Hall was demolished so water lines spanning north and south across campus could be repaired. Although it was promised to be completed last fall, the current projection for completion lies within October of this year, said assistant faculty management director Micheal Cremer.
Other construction projects on campus include the STEM Building and the demolition of Otto Olsen. Completed projects include the Antelope Bookstore in the Nebraska Student Union and the Child Development Center located across Highway 30 by Village Flats.
“I’m really looking forward to the new students seeing the finished fountain and for everyone to be able to walk through what was once construction,” said Nicole Kent, UNK student body president. “It’s an exciting time to be at UNK and this construction will only further improve our campus.”
Hausmann Construction began the demolition of the fountain because of a two-phase sanitary sewer project. The fountain needed to be removed in order to access the water pipes that run from the Student Union to Highway 30. Last year students witnessed the sidewalks and ground being torn up through the center of campus as a part of phase one. Now, phase two is about to commence.
Hausmann Construction is operating as a separately hired contractor for the rebuilding of the fountain. The estimated installation date is this October. However, the water is not expected to be turned on until spring due to the cold weather that will accompany a fall completion.
The former green area between Men’s Hall and the Memorial Student Affairs building is currently being used as a staging area for the construction team. Equipment and vehicles are able to be placed in this area for the time being. Upon the completion of the fountain, this area shall be reverted back into a green space.
The STEM Building, located just north of West Center, is projected to be finished in the spring or summer of 2020. This ensures that it will be ready for the next fall semester.
“Progress is going well [on the Stem Building] and is projected to be on time,” said Cremer. “The dry wall is being put in on the upper floors and the windows will be in before the winter months. While it’s cold, the interior will be finished.”
As for Otto Olsen, there is no determined date for its demolition, but early 2021 is
a possibility, according to Cremer. Many of the classes that currently take place in Otto Olsen will be moved to the STEM Building, which will consist primarily of students affiliated with the College of Business and Technology. Classes in math, engineering, aviation, and industrial distribution, are a few expected to be taught there at that time.
Recent completed projects on campus include the Antelope Bookstore in the Union and the CDC building south of campus. The Antelope Bookstore had to be redone in spring of 2019 due to deteriorated pipe under the floor, which had to be replaced. The bookstore is now open for business this semester.
