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February 8, 2008 > News > Summer-long grove construction near south colleges begins today

Summer-long grove construction near south colleges begins today

By Sarah Rutledge | Thresher Editorial Staff

Today, the residents of south college can enjoy a new view from their rooms: construction fences. The covered chain links along the south side of the college are the first step in the grove project, on track for completion by the end of June. Facilities, Engineering and Planning Project Manager Larry Vossler said the expected $1 million project, a gift from an anonymous Hanszen alumnus, will beautify the grove and make the area more accessible for students.

FE&P Communications Manager Susann Glenn said the project has been in the works since April 2006. After going through various approval and design phases, FE&P presented the plan to the south college presidents on Jan. 22. Afterward, FE&P conducted a question-and-answer session with students on Jan. 30 to address potential concerns.

The planned location of the grove currently suffers from standing water, poor drainage and mosquitoes, Glenn said. The project will include replacing and elevating the sidewalks around the grove, which are too low. Many students were wary of the project’s proposed use of decomposed granite on the area’s sidewalks, which is also used in the temporary walkways by the construction fences at the north colleges and behind Fondren Library, Glenn said. She said this material provides ecological benefits.

“It’s much better for trees and is pervious for water, so water and air can penetrate the granite,” Glenn said. “But we heard from the students that their concerns were about shoes and bicycle tires and that it gets muddy.”

Because of student complaints, Glenn said FE&P is currently looking at pea granite, a type of concrete, for the sidewalks. The pea granite will be more costly, but cost is not the deciding factor, she said. Glenn said they are examining options to expand the sidewalks.

FE&P will look for student input in putting benches in the grove, but Glenn said most students want to keep the grove as open as possible to provide easier access across the south colleges.

Additionally, FE&P plans to install more light fixtures down the center of the grove.

Construction on the grove will start no earlier than 7 a.m. on workdays. Glenn said the noisier work will occur after 8 a.m. and demolition will happen after 9 a.m. during those days.

“The noise from this type of construction is much different from the type of construction taking place elsewhere on campus,” Glenn said. “This noise we’re talking about — smaller machines — a lot of this work is going to be done with shovels, so we are not using jackhammers to take out the sidewalks.”

Since the grove is a smaller project than the construction of the two new residential colleges, there will be fewer construction workers on site. Vossler said there will be no cranes or huge equipment.

Because the demolition has to occur before the plants can be laid down, Glenn said the project is starting now to make sure the planned garden is grown in before next fall.

Glenn said FE&P seriously considers student complaints and has modified the project accordingly.

“Even though fencing is going up, that doesn’t mean that we’re not taking their input into consideration,” she said.

Hanszen President Court Jackson said students were initially confused as to the grove’s function.

“Students were very upset at first and there were a lot of concerns about the function of the grove, whether it was a place where people hang out and talk or a place to throw a Frisbee,” Jackson, a senior, said.

He said FE&P planners have changed their design for the construction project after talking to students. Hanszen has had two forums so far dealing with the grove.

Jackson said the most immediate concern for Hanszen is construction and the closing off of pathways during the day.

“In the long term, [the grove is] something that Hanszen will be able to use,” Jackson said. “It might become a second quad since it’s closer to us than to the other colleges. I hope that students … use their free time there.”

Hanszen freshman Will Randall said the grove should brighten up the area between the south colleges.

“Right now, it’s kind of a dark hole on campus and it feels very out of place,” Randall said. “It’s not inviting and it looks like it should be a major thoroughfare, but it’s not.”

Randall said the grove construction is an unplanned inconvenience for the students from the south colleges.

“I think people are just tired of green fences,” Randall said. “They’re tired of construction, especially freshmen. We didn’t exactly sign up for this.”

Glenn said FE&P plans to meet with students every month to voice their concerns and she will send a weekly e-mail to students in the south colleges detailing the construction’s progress. Glenn encouraged students with questions to visit the Construction Information Center at Alumni Drive and College Way.

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