Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Bennett renovation behind schedule

Bennett renovation behind schedule

August 24, 2014 by Brittany Jackson

Campus became every constructor’s dream over summer as demolition started and the Vision In Action campaign gained speed.

Construction began on Bennett Gymnasium shortly before the spring 2014 semester ended, and continued through summer. Plans for Chamber Hall’s demolition were enacted and other buildings on campus received renovations accordingly.

Kevin Roberts, vice president of planning and operations, said he had to deal with the construction of Bennett, the athletic fields and relocation offices as well as dorm maintenance over summer break.

“Summers are always, in the facility world, our hands down busiest season,” he said.

Renovations for Bennett began around April last semester with the roping off of a few parking spots in the Nelson lot and by the Phillips Education building.

Roberts said the construction process was delayed two weeks because a truck to pour the cement was not available to be rented.

As of now, the building has been gutted, the foundation laid and a steel skeleton of the building is being set up with walls coming soon.

With weekly meetings in place to talk about design elements and classroom placements in Bennett, Roberts said he hopes construction will be completed by the end of September or early October.

“Over the course, then, of the rest of that semester, each department will move in and get all their stuff set up and get ready to teach classes starting spring semester,” he said.

However, in discussions in May, the physics and engineering departments were told Bennett would be ready for use by the start of this semester. Jess Dowdy, associate professor and assistant chair of engineering and physics, said the extended construction has forced him and other professors to frequently rearrange where classes will be held.

“I think it’s very difficult,” he said. “A lot of plans have had to be put on hold, but we’re going to manage.”

The departments will utilize space in the Maker Lab, and use the dean of arts and sciences’ conference room for lab space.

After Bennett is complete, Roberts said attention will be directed to the demolition of Walling Lecture Hall and work on the exterior of Foster Science Building. This will include removing the foyer between Foster and Walling, returning to the original design of the building and adding a glass face to the front of the building.

Chambers will then be demolished to be replaced with the Halbert-Walling Research Center. After classes move into that building, the interior of Foster will be renovated to transform the building into the Robert R. Onstead Center.

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

About Brittany Jackson

You are here: Home / News / Bennett renovation behind schedule

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257 Retweet on Twitter 1521918832738144257 1 Like on Twitter 1521918832738144257 8 Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Like on Twitter 1521607087553458178 19 Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved

Posting....