Motorists should temporarily avoid a section of St. Mary Boulevard that cuts through the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus, a University spokesman said Wednesday.
Lafayette Consolidated Government is installing bike lanes along St. Mary Boulevard, from St. Landry Street to Girard Park Drive.
“Members of the public should take alternate routes when possible,” said Joey Pons, the University’s associate director of Public Safety and risk manager.
Striping on the section of St. Mary Boulevard on campus is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Other work on that portion of the boulevard will continue through next week.
The bike lanes are intended to enhance safety for cyclists along St. Mary Boulevard and expand options for cyclists traveling to and through campus.
Installation of the bike lanes is just one of several construction projects under way on campus, which include the renovation and expansion of the Student Union and improvements in the Quadrangle.
“We’re asking the UL Lafayette community and visitors to exercise extra caution while so much work is being done. And, this much construction at once is bound to create some inconvenience. We appreciate their patience while these improvements are being made,” Pons said.
Many of the projects that have begun, or are about to get started, are part of the University’s Master Plan. That plan will guide campus development over the next 10 to 20 years.
Here’s a look at some active and pending construction projects.
Student Union
The renovation and expansion of the Student Union is on schedule; the project is expected to be complete by the end of 2014.
The $36 million project includes the renovation of University Bookstore, ballroom and Bayou Bijou theater, and the addition of about 30,000 square feet of space. It will feature restaurants, administrative offices and the University post office.
“We’re creating the equivalent of a town square that’s designed to serve the campus community, giving special attention to the needs of our students,” said Bill Crist, director of the University’s Facility Management Department.
The energy-efficient design is expected to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The project is funded primarily by self-assessed student fees.
After the Student Union work is complete, three buildings will be demolished: Vermilion Hall, formerly known as Olivier Hall; Lafayette Hall, formerly called Coronna Hall; and Guillory Hall. Removal of those buildings will provide green space and enhance views of the Student Union from Hebrard Boulevard.
Quadrangle
The Quadrangle is getting a student-designed makeover, which will feature a central plaza and fountain, as well as walkways and landscaping. Four live oaks and several magnolia trees will be planted there. A new, improved drainage system also will be installed.
UL Lafayette’s Student Government Association spearheaded the Quad’s redesign in 2010. Senior architecture students developed the design for the University’s Community Design Workshop, which enables students to work on real-life projects.
The Quadrangle redesign is the first major Master Plan project to be paid for with self-assessed student fees. Students voted last year to support implementation of the University’s Master Plan.
Walk of Honor
A section of the University’s Walk of Honor, a path composed of terracotta pavers engraved with the names of alumni, crosses the Quad. The pavers will be replaced with bricks engraved with alums’ names.
The Walk of Honor will eventually be extended beyond the Quad. It will run parallel to Boucher Street, near the Rose Garden and the Student Union.
New Parking Deck
A new parking deck is under construction near Fletcher, Rougeou and Oliver halls. The six-story structure will accommodate 1,150 vehicles.
Demolition
The University will raze two closed dormitories, Stokes A and Stokes B, as well as an adjacent mechanical building and washeteria.
Fletcher Hall
Fletcher Hall is undergoing a $3.8 million renovation that will stop leaks that have caused extensive water damage. First-floor exterior walls will be repaired, cleaned, weatherproofed and coated to complement new metal panels to be installed on the second floor.
About 20,000 square feet of educational space will be added to the second floor. A sprinkler and fire-alarm system will also be added.
The renovation is expected to be complete by the end of 2014.
The three-story building houses the School of Architecture and Design and the Department of Visual Arts and the College of the Arts’ Media Center.
Burke-Hawthorne Hall
Meanwhile, improvements continue at Burke-Hawthorne Hall. When the building was expanded and remodeled in 2009, it almost doubled in size. The current work is a continuation of the state-funded project. It includes the addition of wrought-iron fencing around a courtyard and improvements to the backstage area in Burke-Hawthorne Theater.
The building houses the Department of Communication, the Department of Communicative Disorders, facilities for the Department of Performing Arts, and KRVS 88.7 FM. These improvements will cost about $1 million.
Angelle Hall
Work is also continuing at Angelle Hall, which is home to the University’s School of Music and Performing Arts.
Crews replaced sidewalks at the building’s entrance this fall. Workers are re-roofing and waterproofing the building, a process that could take about a year.
Athletics Facilities
During halftime at the Homecoming game in November, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the expansion of Cajun Field. About 5,000 seats will be added in the south end zone.
Also on tap are soccer and track facility improvements, a new Athletics Practice Facility, and renovation and expansion of M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.