2008 Woodie Awards
Univ. to get $22M in state funds for buildings
Megan Eckstein
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
State lawmakers yesterday fulfilled the university's request for $22 million to fund several construction projects, including $4 million toward a new physical sciences building.
Frank Brewer, the university's associate vice president for facilities management, said he was not surprised the university was fully funded - he said it happens more often than not - but said he was pleased. This year's request was a little on the low side, he said, with the five-year average being about $30 million per year.
State lawmakers also voted to fund other projects that have long been on the university's agenda, such as the new journalism building and renovations to the Health and Human Performance and Biology-Psychology Buildings.
Ross Stern, the university's lobbyist, said the General Assembly didn't need much convincing to fully fund university projects.
"The legislature was very supportive of trying to get these projects funded in a tough budget year," he said.
Planning for the new physical sciences building will be able to progress significantly next year in part because the state allocated $4 million for the second phase of planning. Brewer said the university is already planning to ask for $91 million next year for construction, which he admitted will take quite a bit more lobbying.
Stern said the lawmakers were especially eager to provide money for the physical sciences building. University leaders have taken several lawmakers on a tour of the current physics building, and Stern said they all seemed amazed at the building's poor condition.
The largest sum of money allocated is $7.5 million to renovate the Health and Human Performance Building to make way for the School of Public Health. Arshad Mughal, the university's assistant director for capital budgeting, said the university would be pitching in another $7.5 million to complete the first phase of renovations, which includes turning the gymnasium and seldom-used racquetball courts into lab space and offices.
Frank Brewer, the university's associate vice president for facilities management, said he was not surprised the university was fully funded - he said it happens more often than not - but said he was pleased. This year's request was a little on the low side, he said, with the five-year average being about $30 million per year.
State lawmakers also voted to fund other projects that have long been on the university's agenda, such as the new journalism building and renovations to the Health and Human Performance and Biology-Psychology Buildings.
Ross Stern, the university's lobbyist, said the General Assembly didn't need much convincing to fully fund university projects.
"The legislature was very supportive of trying to get these projects funded in a tough budget year," he said.
Planning for the new physical sciences building will be able to progress significantly next year in part because the state allocated $4 million for the second phase of planning. Brewer said the university is already planning to ask for $91 million next year for construction, which he admitted will take quite a bit more lobbying.
Stern said the lawmakers were especially eager to provide money for the physical sciences building. University leaders have taken several lawmakers on a tour of the current physics building, and Stern said they all seemed amazed at the building's poor condition.
The largest sum of money allocated is $7.5 million to renovate the Health and Human Performance Building to make way for the School of Public Health. Arshad Mughal, the university's assistant director for capital budgeting, said the university would be pitching in another $7.5 million to complete the first phase of renovations, which includes turning the gymnasium and seldom-used racquetball courts into lab space and offices.
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