Campus Construction

[RaginFan2]

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?

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.

[CajunRed]

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!

[ULalum06]

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!!

[CajunNation]

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 ?

[Boomer]

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!!!!

[CajunAmos]

A little write up on the master plan from the Advertiser website.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article...y=mod|mostview

[RaginFan2]

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 ?

Yes, that was briefly touched on. He said for now, Blackham would stay, but that it would likely be removed at some point in the future. There was discussion of extending St. Landry on to Cajundome Blvd., which would cut through the Blackham complex. That would provide a direct linkage between the University Commons (athletic complex) and the Academic Campus without having to get onto Johnston St. I think that would be a phenomenal accomplishment!

[Big Buds]

I wish I was a billionaire...for many reasons. If this "dream" of mine was reality, this master plan would be fully funded and completed in under five years. It's fun to dream though!

[HelmutVII]

Construction continues to progress in the Rose Garden.

First residence hall has three stairwells finished and the elevator shaft almost finished. Foreground is finished earthwork for second residence hall.



Elevator Pit and stairwell foundation for second residence hall.




Another stairwell foundation for second residence hall.



An area ready for foundation work to begin.



All of the above photos were taken from the Harris Hall fire escape.


More underground electric service installation. the conduit with the painted ends is for incoming service. The other is for interior distribution.

[HelmutVII]

They placed concrete for the foundation and post tension slab early on the Morning of Saturday November 5, 2011. They were still finishing it when I left for the football game at 11:30 A.M.



Close up of one of the Post Tension (PT) cables. They will wreck the forms early this week. The PT crew will come back later in the week and clamp on to the cable. They will then place a tension on the cable with a hydraulic ram. They will place a wedge in a thimble around the cable that is cast in the concrete and then release the cable from the hydraulic ram. The cable stays in tension in the slab. the cable is placed inside a plastic sheath to keep the concrete from adhering to it. Not a good idea to be standing in line with the cable. The wegdes have been known to slip and shoot stuff all over the place.




Remember this view. This is looking to University from Boucher. One of the new residence halls is to the left. The other will be to the right. This will be an alley between the to new halls.




Once the Fall semester is over they will move on to the renovation of Harris, Randolph and Buchanan halls. The entire block will be fenced off and I will have to sneak in on Sundays with Hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses and steel toed boots. It helps to know the general superintendent too. Because if this I don't know if I will be able to have a consistent view point of the project from beginning to end.