WSU's Pullman Capital Construction
Budget Request - Buildings for a Changing University
Now under consideration by the Governor's
Office of Financial Management is WSU's construction budget for
the 1997-99 biennium, a proposal dominated by projects to renovate
existing buildings and improve infrastructure. The recommendations
of Governors Lowry and Locke will each be forwarded to the 1997
Legislature.
Highlights of the WSU Request
for new Classroom Facilities in the Center of the Pullman Campus:
- Design of the "Teaching
and Learning Center" WSU
and the Higher Education Coordinating Board recommend $2.69 million
next biennium to design a new 80,000-square-foot technologically
advanced classroom building. The facility will include
a center for developing and assessing new teaching techniques.
It's estimated the project will cost $31.2 million and could
be completed by 2001. It is the university's number one capital
budget priority.
- "Thompson Hall" Renovation
Renovation of the oldest
building on the WSU Pullman campus and third largest classroom
facility could finally be completed if the Legislature approves
$10.57 million in construction dollars for Thompson Hall as recommended
by the HEC Board. The building, now more than 100 years old,
could be assured to serve students for another 50 years if this
proposal is adopted.
- Kimbrough Hall Addition This
project renovates much of the existing Kimbrough Hall music building,
creates a 180-seat lecture auditorium for a variety of general
university courses, and adds two floors to the existing north
wing. Music professors are anxious to upgrade the quality of music
building. But many are particularly encouraged that music classes
will be taught in a building where many general university courses
are taught, exposing a broader number of the student body to WSU
music program. WSU and the HEC Board are seeking $10.5 million
to construct the new addition.
Gender Equity in Athletics:
Bohler Gym Renovation WSU
and the HEC Board are recommending $17.3 million in construction
dollars of the renovation of Bohler Gym. Coupled with a new addition
under construction, the facility will - for the first time - provide
adequate locker room space for women athletes in a building that
was built in 1938.
Renovate Chemistry Facilities:
Fulmer Hall Completion WSU
and the HEC Board are recommending $13.6 million to complete the
renovation on Fulmer Hall.
High Priority "Predesign"
Projects. WSU is
also requesting planning money which could lead to a request
for design or construction dollars in the 1999-2001 biennium for
these new projects: Planning
for a Landscape Architecture/Apparel, Merchandising & Interior
Design Building; a Museum of Art building which is expected to
attract private matching funds, Murrow Hall Renovation/Addition,
Cleveland Hall Education Addition , Life Sciences Building, Health
Sciences Addition & Library (with improvements for Pharmacy
and veterinary medicine), and the Plant Molecular Science Facility.
All projects were recommended by the HEC Board except for the
Plant Molecular Science Facilities building, which is part of
an addition and renovation of Johnson Hall. The Washington
Wheat Commission recently contributed a $158,000 match for planning
of that project. Of the remaining projects, the HEC Board
gave a higher priority to the Cleveland, Murrow and Landscape
Architecture/AMID facilities.
Equipment Omnibus Appropriation:
The university has requested
$8 million to update equipment for the university, including everything
from computers to farm machinery. If the full amount is appropriated,
the university intends to spend at least $1 million on updating
its agricultural machinery, a proposal with implications for the
WSU's research stations at Wenatchee, Prosser, Puyallup, Pullman
and elsewhere. However, the HEC Board has recommended that just
$4 million be spent on this request.
Infrastructure Issues:
Less glamorous but vitally important issues to the university
in the coming session are requests for improvements to the South
Campus Electrical Service ($2.9 million), funds for new safety
and environmental projects ($5 million), Minor Capital Improvements
($8 million), Infrastructure Preservation ($10 million), Campus
Infrastructure & Road Improvements ($9.9 million), Hazardous
Waste Facilities ($8.7 million) and telecommunications infrastructure
improvements (WSUNet, $9 million.)
