Construction of the new Cimmarusti Science Center, expected to be completed by fall 2003, is running right on schedule, according to Bill Taylor, vice president of business services.
The college, along with Lundgren Management, has been working to keep construction on schedule, and there have been only a few setbacks.
The PB building, expected to be completed by February of 2003, the end of the 2003 winter session, has already been demolished on the inside, according to Taylor. The interior is currently being rebuilt with added walls, air-conditioning and a ceiling.
The north building and south buildings are also right on schedule. The north building has had its walls, basement, first and second floors constructed, while the south building has had its basement constructed. Construction on the walls for the south building is to expected to begin soon, according to Taylor.
Both the PB building and the north building are on schedule to be completed and ready for the spring 2003 semester.
“We are getting down to the minor details now,” said Taylor. Equipment for the planetarium has already been ordered. A little over $1 million will be spent for equipment like the projector for the planetarium. There will be $58,000 used for reclining seats and $175,000 for lab tables.
“Budget approvals for this planetarium equipment will go to the Board of Trustees for approval this month,” said Taylor.
The central plant expansion, which will offer heating and air-conditioning to the science center, is expected to be finished by Nov.1. All that is left, according to Taylor, is piping connecting the science center to the plant.
A temporary chiller, a unit used to offer air-conditioning to facilities, set up near the auditorium is providing air-conditioning to parts of the campus, including the administration building, for right now. This temporary unit will be used until the central plant is finished.
The only setbacks that seem to be causing minor delays are roofing on some of the buildings. According to Taylor, contractors will not be putting in roofing for the octagonal building in the new science center until they are clear of any weather concerns.
The roofing, consisting of plaster, cannot be put in if there are any concerns for rain. However, “this is only a minor setback,” said Taylor, which is not expected to greatly affect the construction schedule.
Taylor, who was on medical leave for seven weeks this summer after a heart attack, left construction management to his assistant Suzanne Courtney and Lundgren Management.
The complete construction project is estimated at about $13 million, according to Taylor. About $6.5 million of the funds going towards that new science center are coming from Measure G.