Campus Construction

thanks for the update and the pics, lcf.

Anyone know what they are doing in the far corner of the research park along eraste landry?

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Originally Posted by KajunKrazy

Anyone know what they are doing in the far corner of the research park along eraste landry?

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A solar farm.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/n...oon/692952001/

And I forgot one: another shot of how nicely the landscaping around the new U is coming along. This is along Boucher, with the new Freshman dorms to the left. Those new dorms and the new U worked so well the only issue is that there is not enough space for incoming freshman to move into them.

More updates on the progress of the new green space:

Top: looking toward the U....looks like some of the last concrete to be poured.
Middle: from Buchanan, looking toward the lake.
Bottom: the entrance, with the newly poured steps.

More pics, showing the new stage. Looks great.

And a pic of Bittle. Doesn't look like they did a very good job of matching the bricks, imho.

Update on the green space project.

The main campus looks really good, like a major university should look like.

Now, attention needs to be paid to the athletic complex. Our facilities are very nice on the inside, but the exterior needs a lot of work from landscaping to cleaning/pressure washing buildings and walls, and even parking lots (I'm not even talking about the press box). The Cox Building needs a cleanup if it will be a couple of years until it is either leveled or expanded. We've got new buildings with no landscaping. Signage on buildings like the IPC are faded with old logos. We have nice facilities that are poorly showcased making an overall poor first impression to any visitors. Why do we need a chain fence around the football complex? Looks terrible. Match the main campus and greatly improve the athletic complex appearance and perception.

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Originally Posted by HoustonCajun

The main campus looks really good, like a major university should look like.

Now, attention needs to be paid to the athletic complex. Our facilities are very nice on the inside, but the exterior needs a lot of work from landscaping to cleaning/pressure washing buildings and walls, and even parking lots (I'm not even talking about the press box). The Cox Building needs a cleanup if it will be a couple of years until it is either leveled or expanded. We've got new buildings with no landscaping. Signage on buildings like the IPC are faded with old logos. We have nice facilities that are poorly showcased making an overall poor first impression to any visitors. Why do we need a chain fence around the football complex? Looks terrible. Match the main campus and greatly improve the athletic complex appearance and perception.

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I heard a while back maybe maggard said we might keep cox building? why aren't we leveling it and creating the victory garden like in the master plan?

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Originally Posted by Ragin' Caleb

I heard a while back maybe maggard said we might keep cox building? why aren't we leveling it and creating the victory garden like in the master plan?

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They are scrapping the football tower/ press box idea because of the cost .. hopefully they still teardown the cox building

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Originally Posted by cajun_lannister

They are scrapping the football tower/ press box idea because of the cost .. hopefully they still teardown the cox building

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The tower may not be the answer...but there HAS to be a plan B for that eyesore...

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Originally Posted by HoustonCajun

The main campus looks really good, like a major university should look like.

Now, attention needs to be paid to the athletic complex. Our facilities are very nice on the inside, but the exterior needs a lot of work from landscaping to cleaning/pressure washing buildings and walls, and even parking lots (I'm not even talking about the press box). The Cox Building needs a cleanup if it will be a couple of years until it is either leveled or expanded. We've got new buildings with no landscaping. Signage on buildings like the IPC are faded with old logos. We have nice facilities that are poorly showcased making an overall poor first impression to any visitors. Why do we need a chain fence around the football complex? Looks terrible. Match the main campus and greatly improve the athletic complex appearance and perception.

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I have noticed that, over time, plants that died around the new residence halls has not been replaced. The dead plants were just removed. All of the landscaping along McKinley placed around the Baker and Huger halls has been removed. It's just grass and they mow it. I haven't checked in the courtyards lately but I drive by on McKinley often. Many of the plants along University against Corona and Bonin have also been removed after they died. I suspect they will be mowing that in the next couple of years. We shall see what happens with the landscaping around the student union. I figured that would happen. They have the money to build but not maintain. If you walked into the Dr. Maggards office and were writing a check for one million dollars I doubt much if any would go to landscaping. I suspect they have bigger priorities than landscaping at the complex.

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Originally Posted by cajun_lannister

They are scrapping the football tower/ press box idea because of the cost .. hopefully they still teardown the cox building

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So are just not doing anything about the 2nd deck and press box? Whole thing needs to be redone

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Originally Posted by Ragin' Caleb

So are just not doing anything about the 2nd deck and press box? Whole thing needs to be redone

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Talked to Jim Harris in Houston this weekend. He said that the plan and timeline for the new upper deck project should be presented to the public in the next 6 -9 months. Looking at completion in approximately 3-4 years.

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Originally Posted by Localyokel

Talked to Jim Harris in Houston this weekend. He said that the plan and timeline for the new upper deck project should be presented to the public in the next 6 -9 months. Looking at completion in approximately 3-4 years.

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Wow....that's the really great news. Did not anticipate that we would have it projected to be completed in 3-4 years. Wish it was 2-3, lol, but I'll take 3-4.

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Originally Posted by LaCajunsFan

Wow....that's the really great news. Did not anticipate that we would have it projected to be completed in 3-4 years. Wish it was 2-3, lol, but I'll take 3-4.

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3-4 years is at least a decade faster than I actually believed it could happen.

.... just in time for the presentation to the AAC ....

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Originally Posted by Ragin' Caleb

I heard a while back maybe maggard said we might keep cox building? why aren't we leveling it and creating the victory garden like in the master plan?

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You are correct. I was by there the other day and if I were Franks / Mosing family who paid for the naming rights to the APC, I'd be p_____ed as half of the name is blocked by that eyesore.

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Originally Posted by HelmutVII

I have noticed that, over time, plants that died around the new residence halls has not been replaced. The dead plants were just removed. All of the landscaping along McKinley placed around the Baker and Huger halls has been removed. It's just grass and they mow it. I haven't checked in the courtyards lately but I drive by on McKinley often. Many of the plants along University against Corona and Bonin have also been removed after they died. I suspect they will be mowing that in the next couple of years. We shall see what happens with the landscaping around the student union. I figured that would happen. They have the money to build but not maintain. If you walked into the Dr. Maggards office and were writing a check for one million dollars I doubt much if any would go to landscaping. I suspect they have bigger priorities than landscaping at the complex.

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We are seeking millions of dollars in donations to athletics. We are also wanting to move up in conference. We will only get one chance to make a first impression with any new donors, with visiting conference commissioners or potential conference schools that we might play, and any visitors to our complex. We need to make the right impression when they visit our athletic complex. Relating this to Real Estate terms, we have Class A interiors to our facilities (which nobody sees), but Class B exteriors and grounds, and in some buildings Class C. A lot will change when something is done with the Cox Building, but who knows when that till occur. UL is looking at 2 options with that building (1) tear it down and rebuild elsewhere, or (2) renovate and put a 2nd story on it. I would argue that UL can't afford to not landscape and make the complex as attractive as possible. There are a couple of things UL can do. (1) Find a landscaping company as a major sponsor of athletics who will handle the landscaping for us and (2) get creative, for example, by utilizing the agronomy department to provide each year a senior class project to work on the athletic campus landscaping in conjunction with the landscaping sponsor.

UL cannot afford to overlook the details that will make for a great athletic campus to match our now beautiful academic campus that Dr. S has done a remarkable job with. We are attracting more valedictorians than ever to UL. When students and their parents visit, they want to see a beautiful, vibrant campus. If you want to attract wealth (economic and academic), look wealthy. Quit operating like we are USL. We are the University of Louisiana. Invest in it. Act like it. Look like it.

Interesting, realated recent article in the Verm.

https://www.thevermilion.com/news/ne...1c49a63a5.html

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Originally Posted by HoustonCajun

We are seeking millions of dollars in donations to athletics. We are also wanting to move up in conference. We will only get one chance to make a first impression with any new donors, with visiting conference commissioners or potential conference schools that we might play, and any visitors to our complex. We need to make the right impression when they visit our athletic complex. Relating this to Real Estate terms, we have Class A interiors to our facilities (which nobody sees), but Class B exteriors and grounds, and in some buildings Class C. A lot will change when something is done with the Cox Building, but who knows when that till occur. UL is looking at 2 options with that building (1) tear it down and rebuild elsewhere, or (2) renovate and put a 2nd story on it. I would argue that UL can't afford to not landscape and make the complex as attractive as possible. There are a couple of things UL can do. (1) Find a landscaping company as a major sponsor of athletics who will handle the landscaping for us and (2) get creative, for example, by utilizing the agronomy department to provide each year a senior class project to work on the athletic campus landscaping in conjunction with the landscaping sponsor.

UL cannot afford to overlook the details that will make for a great athletic campus to match our now beautiful academic campus that Dr. S has done a remarkable job with. We are attracting more valedictorians than ever to UL. When students and their parents visit, they want to see a beautiful, vibrant campus. If you want to attract wealth (economic and academic), look wealthy. Quit operating like we are USL. We are the University of Louisiana. Invest in it. Act like it. Look like it.

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I totally agree with you on the need to put the finishing touches to complete the total look of a 1st class university. This is a must-do.

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Originally Posted by LaCajunsFan

Interesting, realated recent article in the Verm.

https://www.thevermilion.com/news/ne...1c49a63a5.html

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I think they will try to do more of this. They need to cut costs on landscape up keep and anything that will let them do nothing will be a help. It will be interesting to see how this works long term. I suspect these areas might be trash magnets.

Green space is pretty much complete, and I think it turned out to be a great addition to the campus:

This is a view from Buchanan taken right before the construction was completed, and that was posted on the UL Housing FB page.