Pioneer

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Kayla Fisher Although a new ramp leading into the north side of the Cascade Building had been scheduled to be completed last fall, construction continues.

Students are still having to use the sky bridge as access to the Cascade Building from north campus.

Phase two construction began with the demolition of the ramp outside level four of Cascade. A temporary ramp was put in its place for $50,000, but it was never used and it was torn down before the start of winter quarter.

"We had originally intended to have this bridge in use by the beginning of the fall quarter and available through the end of the winter quarter," said Director of Facilities Jim Taylor. "By the time we had a contractor starting work in this area, it was too late to have this bridge in place by fall."

According to Taylor, it would have cost more money to leave the temporary ramp in place. Extra contractor fees would have been incurred because work would have slowed down to accommodate students using the ramp.

"Due to the extent of contractor activity on both the Cascade and Rainier projects, the area was simply too unsafe to allow pedestrian traffic," Taylor said.

"Based on conversations with the contractor during the break between fall and winter quarters, it became apparent that we could not ensure safe conditions as we moved into the winter quarter and it would actually slow down completion of work in this area if we opened the bridge," he said.

"Allowing the contractor to take down the bridge early has enabled construction activity to speed up completion of the new entrance and plaza area adjacent to the bookstore," Taylor said. "We will continue to use the sky bridge as our main route of travel until the new entrance is completed."

Phase two also consists of the Rainier Building being completed, and the faculty will be expected to move their equipment in the building by late February.

"We are still on track to have the building open for instruction as of the beginning of the spring quarter on March 29," Taylor said.

Toward the end of phase two, Extended Learning and International Education should be back into their offices on Cascade level five by mid-to-late March, and the library should be moving back into its newly renovated space in late April or beginning of May.

"Distance Education and The Pioneer newspaper will remain in the Sunrise Building for approximately one more year," Taylor said. "We'll be immediately resetting the performance lounge and rooms in Sunrise for the next round of temporary moves."

Administrative offices on Cascade level three will be relocating to other areas including the performance lounge and Sunrise Building. Most of this move will take place about two weeks after the library moves into permanent space - about mid-May.

Some moves may take place a little earlier. This move will include some offices adjacent to the lecture hall, as well.

"The phase two project will not be fully complete until early 2011," Taylor said. "This represents a large amount of work to be accomplished over the next few months."

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