Campus construction projects
UD announces South Academy Street utility projects to begin
1:59 p.m., Dec. 10, 2014--The University of Delaware has announced that the South Academy Street utility construction project, which involves the installation of new underground steam, condensate and chilled water piping, will begin on Monday, Dec. 15.
The project will result in the replacement and upsizing of existing underground piping on the South Central Green and will provide steam and chilled water for the new South Academy Street residence hall.
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Construction of the new residence hall, which will be located between Hartshorn, Sussex and Kent halls, will begin in January 2016 and the building will be ready for occupancy for the fall 2017 semester.
Work supporting the utility project, which is scheduled for completion in September 2015, also will involve the removal of trees and shrubs, which will be replaced as much as new site conditions will permit.
Buildings impacted by the utility project include 413 Academy Street and Hartshorn, Laurel, Squire, Sussex, Kent, New Castle and Cannon halls.
Road crossing work will begin on Dec. 15, as Academy Street will be shut down between Park Place and Courtney Street for that week to install piping under the road.
Courtney Street will be shut down for the weeks of Jan. 5-9 and Jan. 12-16 to complete piping road crossing.
Replacement of steam lines to Hartshorn and Laurel halls will begin in early April 2015.
Parking Lot 31, at the corner of Academy and Courtney streets. will be out of service from Dec. 15 through August 2015.
Existing chilled water lines to Robinson and Cannon halls will be upsized with work taking place between January and March. One pedestrian lane will be maintained at all times in the South Green area. Restoration work on the area will begin toward the end of March.
Existing steam and condensate piping will be replaced on the South Green between Cannon and Laurel halls beginning June 10, 2015, after Alumni Weekend. Work will be completed by Aug. 22.
The existing fire lane off Academy Street south of Smyth Hall will be shut down for the summer.
The project also includes restoring and upgrading bike racks as project constraints will allow, said Sue Wyndham, landscape planner in UD Facilities-Grounds Services.
“We will be protecting trees that don’t need to be removed. Our goal is to preserve the existing canopy and replace trees when we can, as site conditions permit,” Wyndham said. “We understand that people care about trees and we will do our best to replace trees that had to be taken down because of the project.”
Whiting Turner is construction manager for the project.
An open forum on the South Academy Street utility project will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, in Room 137 of 413 Academy Street, and representatives from impacted departments will be present.
For more information, contact David McNamara of UD Facilities, Planning and Construction at djmc@udel.edu or call 302-218-0891.
Article by Jerry Rhodes