UMW proceeds with construction throughout campus

by CARLOS NUNES

Staff Writer

As students, faculty and staff return to campus for the Fall 2024 semester, some may observe several changes to campus through current and past construction projects. 

“Hopefully returning students will be appreciative of the improvements, absence of construction detours, and utility outages; but mainly the hope is that all students will be able to focus on their academics and campus experience without having to worry about what goes on behind the scenes,” said Capital Outlay Director Gary Hobson.

After four years of construction, UMW has successfully concluded the Underground Utilities Project. The project aimed to upgrade aging infrastructure and improve the efficiency of the university’s water and heating systems. In all, it replaced over 5,000 linear feet of water lines and steam pipes across campus, spanning from Randolph and Mason Halls to Virginia Hall. 

The work on the project was halted during academic semesters to minimize disruptions, hence the elongated completion time. The new lines connect directly to daily uses, providing heating for buildings and hot water for sinks and showers in residence halls. 

“The Underground Utilities Project was extremely challenging but critically important to upgrading our utilities that serve academic and residential spaces, and we greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of the whole UMW Community in bearing with us throughout the four years of the project,” said Hobson. “I am also greatly appreciative of my staff and others for their support.”

Monroe Hall remains closed for the Fall 2024 semester due to ongoing roof reconstruction. The project began in November 2023 to address leaks that had developed as the building aged. Initial repairs were limited by temperature restrictions, but as the weather warmed, additional issues were discovered, including water damage to the wooden rafters and substrate. The damage necessitated a more extensive project, prompting the building’s closure. The reconstruction project is expected to extend into the fall semester, and as a result, all classes and offices have been relocated. 

“I feel that Monroe being closed perpetuates the culture that UMW will never be 100% operational for its students,” said sophomore history and anthropology major Caty Taylor.  “[Monroe was] my primary building of study and not being able to have the building has been a significant disruption to my studies.”

Allen Queen, a junior international affairs major whose classes were primarily located in Monroe before the closure, also shared disappointment in the ongoing construction.

“I know that these things can take time and a lot of behind the scenes work, but not knowing where your class is [going to] be until the week before classes, and even having one class moved online purely because there wasn’t enough locations for class to have a room, it’s disappointing,” he said. 

George Washington Hall has also reopened following extensive repair to its HVAC systems. The project, which began in the winter of 2023, was necessitated by water damage caused by leaks in the roof. 

The repairs included mold remediation and HVAC system replacement. Staff with offices impacted by the maintenance were temporarily relocated or allowed to work remotely during the spring and summer semesters. 

Still undergoing repairs, the Goolrick Hall pool is currently closed for renovations and is expected to reopen in early October 2024. The maintenance is intended to improve the pool’s quality and efficiency, ensuring a better experience for swimmers and staff. The upgrades include plumbing repairs, new underwater lighting, deck tiling and fresh paint. 

Similarly, Simpson Library is undergoing several upgrades, including reupholstering the treehouses on the top floor. Additionally, the library will receive structural repairs to the stairwell and exterior masonry, which will begin this fall and continue through the spring. To minimize disruption, only one stairwell will be closed at a time, ensuring access remains available through the center stairwell or the opposite end of the building. 

While several campus locations have reopened, some students, like sophomore psychology major Alexis Sawchuk, expressed annoyance at the ongoing construction because of the impact they have on campus.

“[I’m] annoyed because of its domino effect. Professors were displaced and so many students lost their major building, which can be part of their identity, leaving them displaced as well,” said Sawchuk. “Additionally, the displacement has affected the distances that students have to walk in between classes, leading some to be late.”