Cranes, construction everywhere — Students pick their way around building sites at many of Utah's colleges, universities

Construction projects dot the campuses of several of Utah's college and university campuses, and the upgrades and designs incorporated in the projects promise to be worth suffering through the immediate inconveniences.

Many of the current projects have been sitting on needs lists for decades. The lists are never-ending as buildings age and student populations outgrow them, but as the priorities work their way through the system, campuses are made more valuable and are better assets for the students and communities who use them.

According to the state's Division of Facilities and Construction Management, the University of Utah nearly always has the most projects going at one time. Not only is it the largest university in the state, but it pulls in the most in donations, said Lynn Hinrichs, manager for DFCM's capital development projects. Having a jump-start on funding, he says, often helps to get legislative approval for capital development projects.

Currently the Marriott Library is undergoing renovation, a multiyear project that is being completed in phases beginning in June 2005, to be finished in 2008. Expansion of the University Hospital is also ongoing, allowing for safety and seismic improvements to an already busy facility.

Weber State University has

multiple projects under way as well, the biggest being the renovation of the Shepherd Union Building, which is also being done in phases, two-thirds of which is already open to students. With two classroom buildings demolished to build the new Elizabeth Hall and the center of campus being redone, as well, much of the campus has been rerouted during the construction process, causing some headaches for students trying to find their way around.

But for the most part, facilities management has kept things under control and provided clear detours for students, said Norm Tarbox, WSU's vice president of administrative services.

"We've re-established a walkway through the center of our campus," he said. "It's not the same set of stairs, but it gets you to the same place."

Officials didn't think the three major projects would come together at the same time, and Tarbox said everything is being done to "make the pain as short as possible." Most of the bell tower plaza renovation will be done during summer months, which will hopefully reduce the student impact.

"We're busier now with construction than we've been since the late 1960s," Tarbox said. The Ogden campus is more than 50 years old, and like many of the campuses in Utah, buildings are in dire need of upgrades.