Campus Construction

Rose garden construction is well under way.

One stairwell completed and two under construction.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274941420/" title="rose-1 by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/6274941420_4832e0e3a3.jpg" width="500" height="236" alt="rose-1"></a>

Bonin Gone.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274412881/" title="rose-2 by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6274412881_c4cc2b2bcc.jpg" width="500" height="280" alt="rose-2"></a>

Casing for two hydraulic elevator rams for the second Rose Garden Dorm. This is where Bonin Dorm was.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274413273/" title="elevator-casing by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6050/6274413273_e14c60ced2.jpg" width="500" height="300" alt="elevator-casing"></a>

Lots of plumbing rough in to do.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274415485/" title="rose-4 by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6219/6274415485_1f7002ed69.jpg" width="500" height="352" alt="rose-4"></a>

Completed stair well

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274414869/" title="rose-3 by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6274414869_b1aa7c6a93.jpg" width="413" height="500" alt="rose-3"></a>

The renovation of O K Allen Hall is finished.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6274940130/" title="ok-allen-finished by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6211/6274940130_6412e2d05a.jpg" width="500" height="295" alt="ok-allen-finished"></a>

What kind of renovation work was done on OK Allen?

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Originally Posted by RaginFan2

What kind of renovation work was done on OK Allen?

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They added a new corridor for the new student health services. The old one will be torn down in the Union expansion process.

OK Allen Hall was gutted from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall. All of the old and inefficient mechanical units were removed, the windows were replaced with energy efficient units, and the floors and ceilings were insulated. The remains of the kitchen were still in the building and that was removed also. Half of the building will be occupied by Counseling and Testing the other half will be used for the medical clinic. The old clinic along with Guillory and Corona Hall complex will eventually be demolished during the student union renovation.

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Originally Posted by HelmutVII

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Thanks for the updates. Sweet progress.

In the last pic with the bulldozer it looks like a different bricklayer from the top of the window on up. Perhaps he was scared of scaffolds. :)

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Thanks for the updates. Sweet progress.

In the last pic with the bulldozer it looks like a different bricklayer from the top of the window on up. Perhaps he was scared of scaffolds. :)

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At any given time there may have been 40 to 50 guys on the brick laying crew. Of that, maybe 15 or 20 brick layers, the rest being helpers of one form or another. No two brick layers will have the same technique or skill and there is no guarantee that one brick layer will work at the same place two days in a row. So the wall will vary a little bit up and down and right to left. Brick laying depends on three things, level, plumb and "finish where you start". One of the things that has changed in construction is the lack of experienced people in the trades. You may have noticed that many new homes today do not have a complete veneer of brick all the way around the house. They will break it up with stucco or siding. One of the reasons for this is because the brick layer does not have to have the skill of going all the way around the house and "coursing out" properly (finishing where he started"). They can skip an area and nobody will notice. (looking at the where the brick courses hit the window sills or the tops of the doors is a dead give away to a good or bad brick layer. If the courses don't hit at the same location at every window then the brick layer was bad or the framing carpenter couldn't measure).

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Originally Posted by HelmutVII

OK Allen Hall was gutted from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall. All of the old and inefficient mechanical units were removed, the windows were replaced with energy efficient units, and the floors and ceilings were insulated. The remains of the kitchen were still in the building and that was removed also. Half of the building will be occupied by Counseling and Testing the other half will be used for the medical clinic. The old clinic along with Guillory and Corona Hall complex will eventually be demolished during the student union renovation.

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Thanks, Helmut (and Kelbow, too!), for the info. And double thanks for keeping us updated and informed on all of the building going on on-campus. Really appreciate it!

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Originally Posted by RaginFan2

Thanks, Helmut (and Kelbow, too!), for the info. And double thanks for keeping us updated and informed on all of the building going on on-campus. Really appreciate it!

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All the credit should go to Helmet, he has a camera lol. I can see the progress on the Rose Garden area everyday walking to class, and they are doing some work.

My wife and I were floored ( pun intended ) when we went up the elevator and saw just the hallways and the rooms and baths---so cool--Kinda wish I had just waited to take the first walk through the finished rose garden---Were they able to keep any of the bushes???? Now add on the Cajun Village with the new Union work!!!! Any word on the finishing of the total dorms and when will the Village/Union work start????

The Credit Union offices have settled in to their new home at the Parking Garage. Parking and Transit is sharing the office space. (The door closest to the camera).

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6297138898/" title="credit-union by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6223/6297138898_89cd1dbdd9.jpg" width="500" height="377" alt="credit-union"></a>

The drive through for the Credit Union is located on the first level of the parking garage.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6296610111/" title="drive-thru by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6109/6296610111_4b5d39c0a1.jpg" width="500" height="337" alt="drive-thru"></a>


Work on Huger Hall continues to make nice progress. They are scheduled to be finished for Thanksgiving
This is the entrance as seen from Tulane Ave.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6296608381/" title="huger-entrance by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6296608381_463e2c9c6e.jpg" width="434" height="500" alt="huger-entrance"></a>

Clean up and drainage work continues to the rear of Huger. Baker Hall is to the rear of the camera.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6296608055/" title="huger-1 by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6296608055_732dde6ceb.jpg" width="500" height="385" alt="huger-1"></a>

Work on the first Rose Garden dorm continues. Lots of below ground work this past week so it doesn't look too much different from last week.

First Rose Garden Dorm under construction. All three stairwells are finished along with the elevator pit. Lots of Plumbing and Electrical rough in being done. The photo does not show it very well but the foreground is about a three foot deep excavation where Bonin used to be. I guess they will fill it up this week. (photo taken from fire escape for Harris Hall)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6297139822/" title="first-dorm-use by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6297139822_2d2b7a5d03.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="first-dorm-use"></a>

Dirt work completed where Bonin used to be. (Photo taken from fire escape for Harris Hall)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6296608863/" title="dirt-work by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6107/6296608863_0ab399d15c.jpg" width="500" height="307" alt="dirt-work"></a>

Electric service for the first Rose Garden Dorm.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6296609263/" title="electrick-service by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6296609263_b7da7122f9.jpg" width="500" height="296" alt="electrick-service"></a>

Electric and Plumbing rough in completed at this portion of the building. Preparing for concrete placement. Randolph Hall is to the rear of the camera.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/66590213@N05/6297140802/" title="getting-ready by Rosegardendorms, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6232/6297140802_c56d66f592.jpg" width="500" height="386" alt="getting-ready"></a>

As I walked through the parking garage today I did notice lots of trash on the first level. I hope they can keep this under control. My fear is that they have found the money to build the buildings but don't have the money to maintain.

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Originally Posted by HelmutVII

As I walked through the parking garage today I did notice lots of trash on the first level. I hope they can keep this under control. My fear is that they have found the money to build the buildings but don't have the money to maintain.

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That is the typical problem in public building construction in Louisiana. Far too often the maintenance costs are not included. That is something I'd like to see corrected in the near future. I think it often (not necessarily in this case) is a result of being afraid that if you add in the maintenance costs to the overall budget, the project will get shot down. Just my opinion. Thanks for the updates and photos, Helmut!

Are they going to install a set of empty bleachers on Tulane Avenue? ;)

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Originally Posted by Turbine

Are they going to install a set of empty bleachers on Tulane Avenue? ;)

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-------Well maybe by the credit Union lot of Green BILLows inside!!!

Went to the meeting tonight about the master plan for the campus. Unbelievable what plans are being made to improve the campus in the future. Anyone else make it?

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Originally Posted by duggie85

Went to the meeting tonight about the master plan for the campus. Unbelievable what plans are being made to improve the campus in the future. Anyone else make it?

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Can't believe I forgot about that. Could you please share some interesting bits of the discussion?

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Originally Posted by ULBouzi

Can't believe I forgot about that. Could you please share some interesting bits of the discussion?

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Basically every parking lot on campus will be replaced with either buildings or green(grass, trees, etc.). Will be numerous parking garages.....St. Mary will be converted to 2 lanes with 2 bike lanes occupying the other 2 lanes that are already there. Will have bushes/trees splitting the 2 car lanes from 2 bike lanes..... Campus will be very pedestrian/bike friendly.....Plan to make entire UL property feel like academic campus by lining all roads with oak trees (st. mary all the way to st. louis, st. louis all the way cajundome blvd, all of cajundome blvd and even congress from UMC to Cajundome).... Quite possible to have tram system from Cajun Field to new Parking Garage across from Old Tyme.

Too much info to type basically haha. Was very impressed!!!!

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Originally Posted by duggie85

Basically every parking lot on campus will be replaced with either buildings or green(grass, trees, etc.). Will be numerous parking garages.....St. Mary will be converted to 2 lanes with 2 bike lanes occupying the other 2 lanes that are already there. Will have bushes/trees splitting the 2 car lanes from 2 bike lanes..... Campus will be very pedestrian/bike friendly.....Plan to make entire UL property feel like academic campus by lining all roads with oak trees (st. mary all the way to st. louis, st. louis all the way cajundome blvd, all of cajundome blvd and even congress from UMC to Cajundome).... Quite possible to have tram system from Cajun Field to new Parking Garage across from Old Tyme.

Too much info to type basically haha. Was very impressed!!!!

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This is the website: www.ullafayettemasterplan.wordpress.com

It was a 1.5 hour long presentation. Stuff I mentioned above was easy things to type out. The plans to build from Eraste Landry to Congress is way to detailed to type. Also, how they plan to tie in that whole area to meet at Lourdes/main campus, even if they end up not being able to buy Lourdes, is pretty exciting.

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Originally Posted by duggie85

This is the website: ullafayettemasterplan.wordpress.com.

It was a 1.5 hour long presentation. Stuff I mentioned above was easy things to type out. The plans to build from Eraste Landry to Congress is way to detailed to type. Also, how they plan to tie in that whole area to meet at Lourdes/main campus, even if they end up not being able to buy Lourdes, is pretty exciting.

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Awesome, thanks for all of the info. Exciting times.

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Originally Posted by duggie85

Went to the meeting tonight about the master plan for the campus. Unbelievable what plans are being made to improve the campus in the future. Anyone else make it?

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Yep, I was there, too. Outstanding ideas! This master planning process is WAY overdue. It is still early in the process, so nothing is etched in stone yet. A lot of promise. He (Steve Oubre) also mentioned that this is a 50 year (approx.) look into the future. Some thing can be done quickly, easily, & cheaply (the "low-hanging fruit"), and they will likely be seen in the near future. Other things, such as a tram, will require much more study and lots of money. I am a big supporter of a tram, but I want to make sure it is thoroughly analyzed and that the public is aware of everything involved. I think it would still be a good thing and possibly get approval, depending on a variety of things. He talked about too many things to cover them all here, but tying the "academic campus" (main campus) with the "university commons" (athletic complex & research park), possibly including the Lourdes property, was a big part of the plan. He also talked a bit about the football stadium and mentioned the possibility of it being enlarged to about 50k. He said someone stated that moving football from McNaspy Stadium to Cajun Field removed the soul of the university. He talked about tying the two areas together would help restore the university's soul. Also said there was some thought about moving fraternity row back toward the main campus, but that was just in the idea phase. Nothing concrete on that yet. There was a good turnout and a lot of good Q & A at the end.

Some GREAT stuff. The transformation already taking place around campus with the remodeling and addition of new dorms is amazing and those who haven't driven by in a few years should do so. I can't wait to see some of the initial parts of these plans implemented.

The future of UL is very bright!

I like the tram...and I know he said it didnt' matter if we get Lourdes, but it seems to me that a lot hinges on that.

Tram!!

Was there any mention of the most wasted property that UL owns -- the area from Blackham all the way to the Dorms? ...and clearing that property ?

I have tried to visualize what you are referring to and I don't get it---I go South I go to Albertsons-----I go west I go to the sorority houses-----I go East I go to Fatima---I go North I go to the old dairy and then about 2 blocks of businesses---I guess you could go northeast and get to the dorms ---please explain more!!!! Maybe this could be a Tram route instead of the hospital route---I told Coach Blanco this when we first started the buses---Could have been so cool way back when!!!!