Campus Construction

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!