Regents Approve $42 Million in Projects
HUNTSVILLE - Steps toward construction and renovation projects
totaling more than $42 million were approved for Sam Houston
State University Friday by the university's board of regents.
The Texas State University System Board of Regents also approved
increases in room rates of 2-6 percent, varying by each housing
facility, and meal plan increases of 3-4.44 percent, varying
with different meal plan options, all effective in the 2005
fall semester.
Reasons given for the room rate increases included increases
in utilities and the need to install a surveillance system
in Sam Houston Village. Board rate increases were necessary
because of increased costs of operations and inflation.
In another area a fee reduction was approved. Students enrolled
in Introduction of College Studies will pay $20 for the course
as opposed to $50 in the past. The higher fee charged previously
was due to the course start-up costs.
James F. Gaertner, SHSU president, presented the agenda items
to the board, which was holding its regular quarterly meeting
in the Beto Criminal Justice Center on the SHSU campus.
The two biggest ticket items on the construction agenda were
design contracts for a $20 million performing arts center
and a $15 million student apartment complex. Both require
additional action by the Texas higher education coordinating
board.
Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects of Houston was selected to
design the performing arts center. With an estimated 75,000
square feet, it will include a concert hall, an adjoining
recital hall, rehearsal halls, practice rooms for individuals
and ensembles, classrooms, dance studios, dressing rooms,
a scene and lighting shop, a computer lab for scene design
and dance choreography, a recording studio, and office space
for faculty and staff.
PDG Architects of Houston was selected to design the 400-bed
student apartment complex, which will be built on the southeastern
edge of the campus. The Gintz family apartments and Aydelotte
and McCray houses, which have a present capacity of 124, are
in poor condition because of age and will be removed.
The university was authorized to take bids for the removal
of those facilities at a cost of up to $240,000.
Other major construction and renovation actions included:
- Award of a contract to Dudley Construction, Ltd. of College
Station for construction of a $3.3 million visitor and alumni
center, with construction to begin this spring and completion
in about a year.
- Employment of Land Design Studio of Austin for a $917,000
phase one design of a recreational area for students, faculty
and staff on a 345-acre tract of land along the Trinity
River;
- Award of a contract to Collier Construction, Inc. of Brenham
for a $900,000 renovation of the Teacher Education Center's
first floor to provide space for the Language, Literacy and
Special Populations program;
- Employment of Lunce Hu Architects, Inc. of Houston to
design elevators for the Bowers Stadium press box, to bring
it into compliance with accessibility standards, with an
estimated cost of $725,000;
- Award of a contract with Dabhi Engineering Associates
of Katy to design electrical and air conditioning modifications
to Belvin Hall, with an estimated cost of $550,000;
- Award of a contact to the W. A. Willis Company, Inc.
of Austin to replace the roofs on the Lee Drain Building
and a portion of the Evans building, at a cost not to exceed
$455,000;
- Approval of preliminary plans submitted by Dabhi Engineering
for an emergency generator to protect university computer
equipment in Academic Building 1, with a project cost of $350,000.
In other business, the board authorized the university to
enter into an agreement with the University of Guam to provide
their students access to SHSU's Master of Education in Reading
and to allow SHSU students access to the University of Guam's
Master of Education in International Literacy.
- END -
SHSU Media Contact: Frank
Krystyniak
Feb. 18, 2005
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