Staring at stairs

Three floors of windows in the main stairwell, a major architectural feature of the O'Neill Center.

Looking up the open stairwell from the first floor. Note the limestone wall behind.

Frosted glass panels with stainless steel railings--a work in progress.

Prefer the elevator? The surround features the same limestone detailing as the stairwell.  

Can't get enough stairs? You are not alone. See a showcase of cool stairs from around the world and never stop stairing. 

Holiday building closures

From Chad Sweatman, Manager, Building Support Services:

The SPEA building will be locked December 24 -26 and December 31 – January 2 over the holiday break. Otherwise, the building will be open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. as normal.

SPEA Building Support Services will be staffed and open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, December 27 – 30 and January 3 – 6. 

Fire alarm testing for the new center and current SPEA building will take place Monday, December 19. Audible alarms and strobes will be set off periodically during the day. No need to exit the building.

Furniture delivery for the O'Neill Center will start December 27. Expect lots of material moving on the elevators and through the hallways that week and two days the following week. 

Business/SPEA Information Commons winter break hours

December 17-18	CLOSED
December 19-23	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
December 24 – January 2	CLOSED
January 3-6	8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
January 7-8	CLOSED

Spring semester hours will begin on Monday, January 9. Enjoy your break!

Photo courtesy of WFIU.

Inside, looking out

Progress continues on the exterior and interior, as the building gets closer to completion. Here are some views from the third floor:

A floor to ceiling view of the Herman B Well Library from the third floor commons.

Third floor commons, looking east. 

A view of the arboretum and campus from the dramatic open stairwell, construction in progress with temporary railings.

Looking down the stairwell to the main entry and the front plaza on Tenth Street. 

Street closing this weekend

This Saturday, December 10, the west bound lane of Tenth Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. so that a new curb and sidewalk can be installed in front of our building. 

Front landscaping arrives

Softscape to counter the hardscape arrived for the new front plaza area today. 

Project continues on track

Side view, heading west.

Update from Chad Sweatman, Manager, Building Support Services:

The O’Neill Center project continues on track to open for first day of classes in January.  Technology and furniture scheduled to install later this month. The perimeter heating system for our current building is now fully functional. 

Front plaza, leading into the building from Tenth Street (as viewed through the construction fence).

Plazas progress

Front stairs to the plaza near completion. 

Hardscapes at the front of the building in progress. 

New lamps and landscaping at the second level plaza area. 

Currently there is no hard date for the plaza to reopen, but it is anticipated to be available closer to building construction completion time in early January 2017.

A cathedral of scaffolding

The main stairwell, under construction. 

Exterior stairs near completion.

Building view, facing west.

Micah and other mix-ins for the terrazzo floors. 

Thanksgiving hours

Photo by Yathin S Krishnappa, Wiki Media Creative Commons.

Business/SPEA Information Commons

• Friday, November 18: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  
• Saturday, November 19 & Sunday, November 20: CLOSED
  
• Monday, November 21 & Tuesday, November 22: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, November 23 – Saturday, November 26: CLOSED
  
• Sunday, November 27: 5 p.m. – Midnight
  
• Regular Fall Semester hours will resume on Monday, November 28.

RPS Cafés

SPEA

• Thursday, November 17: Close at 4 p.m.
  
• Friday, November 18: CLOSED
  
• Monday, November 28: Open at 7:30 a.m.

Hodge Hall

• Thursday, November 17: Close at 4 p.m.
  
• Friday, November 18: 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  
• Monday, November 28: Open at 7:30 a.m.

Heating and cooling updates

Work on the utility project. 

From Chad Sweatman, Manager, Building Support Services: 

• The cool building temps we’ve had the past few weeks have been fixed. The radiant hot water system is now back online. Work has begun replacing the chilled water system. It will be offline for three weeks.
• There will be a steam outage starting tomorrow morning (November 4)  through Sunday (November 5). There will be no heat or hot water during this time. Workers will be completing work on the utility project in the parking lot. This will provide some relief from the hot building temps if we can hang in through today. The forecasted lows and cooler weather next week should help the situation going forward.
• Work continues on the elevators. Both should be back in service at the end of the month.
• The grad addition continues to track on schedule.   

The front of the building on November 3.

On to the third floor

Looking back on the current SPEA building from an office window in the expansion.

An existing stairway links the current fourth floor to the renovated and expanded third floor.

A corridor of sun-filled offices. 

A teamwork room taking shape.

The third floor commons with campus views.

A glimpse inside

Pardon our dust, but we couldn't wait to share how things are shaping up on the second floor. 

One of the main corridors leading from our current building into the expansion. 

Same area, the doorways into what will be group study rooms.

Tile detailing and pops of color surround some doorways. 

An executive classroom features floor to ceiling windows.

The commons area promises great views.

Progress in pictures

Work proceeds on the facade.

Indoor and outdoor stairs in progress.

View from in front of the Wells Library.

Plaza paving nears completion.

Parking lot changes and building updates

 From Chad Sweatman, Manager, Building Support Services:

• Be advised that the traffic pattern to the SPEA parking lot will change back to the lane closest to the building early this week. Workers will be excavating and installing a steam line on the north side of the lot.
  
• The construction trailer will be moved starting at 5 a.m. Friday morning. The trailer will end up on the east side of the lot in the row near the trash dumpsters. They will begin taping off the area Thursday evening and request no vehicles be parked in that area so the move can be completed.
  
• Our elevator refurbishment project will start next week. One elevator will be in service while work takes place on the other. I believe the duration of the project will last about a month.
  
• Those with cool office areas can expect warmer temps late next week. Work will finish up on the reheat system and it will be back in service.
  
• Window installation will finish this week. The building envelope will be sealed.
  
• Preparations are underway to start up the new air handling system for the Graduate Center.
  
• Limestone will be installed in the courtyard this week as well as the last of the pavers.
  
• Bids were accepted on the Kelley Career Center build out last week. Work will begin after the utility relocation project is complete. Weddle Brothers won the contract so the construction trailer in the parking lot will remain until the career center is complete.
  
• Our emergency generator will be replaced sometime this winter. The new generator will sit on the concrete pad near our loading dock. Some of the slanted metal roofing near the handicapped parking will need to be removed on the north side of the building to crane out the old generator.

RPS Cafés: Fall Break Hours

Plan your snacking and caffeine intake accordingly.

SPEA	Thursday, October 6	Closes at 4 p.m.
	Friday, October 7	Closed
Hodge Hall	Thursday, October 6	Closes at 5 p.m.
	Friday, October 7	Closed

Progress in pictures

Plaza paving nears completion. 

Western facing glass walls. 

Progress on steps to the plaza.

Limestone facing on the front of the building. 

Interior stair well.

Utility project to move

From Chad Sweatman, Manager, Building Support Services

The utility project work area is moving this weekend to the other half of the lot. Construction fences will be moved closer to the Kelley building on Saturday. The construction trailer will be moved to the east near the trash dumpsters. The entrance to the lot will be closer to the railroad tracks as it was during the recent Kelly projects. Please plan accordingly.  

Deliveries

Just one stack of many crates of windows waiting to be installed.

Some of the windows now in place on the west side of the building, overlooking the plaza.

An elevator is delivered. How much does an elevator weigh? According to another sticker on the crate: 2,100 pounds. 

If you prefer taking the stairs, those to the plaza are in progress. 

Building finishes, but is not finished

Limestone veneer being applied to eastern wall of addition.

Western wall with limestone and framing taking shape for windows to the front.

Brick pavers being installed over gravel and waterproofing membrane on the plaza.

Thanks to Weddle Construction and their crews for all of their hard work!

A sneak peek inside.