Regents approve construction management firms

Friday, September 15, 2006

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved at-risk construction management firms for several projects outlined in the campus master plan's initial development period.

The projects included in Friday’s action are the new Classroom Building, Science and Technology Research facility and Multimodal Transportation Facility, as well as the renovation of Murray Hall, restoration and remodeling of Old Central and an addition to Oklahoma Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory at OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

The construction projects, all on OSU’s Stillwater campus, are currently in various phases of architectural design and programming. The university began a detailed search process for at-risk construction managers in July.

The greatest capital improvement undertaking in OSU’s history will move forward dramatically next year when ground is broken on the projects enhancing teaching and research on the Stillwater campus. They are part of more than $825 million in construction in the five- to seven-year campus master plan that will transform the OSU campus and enhance academics, student life, athletics and infrastructure.  

While OSU is moving forward to begin construction on those initial projects, Joe Weaver, associate vice president and chief budget planning officer, is leading the effort to look even further into the future and determine what OSU will look like in 20 years and beyond. With help from the School of Architecture, Weaver and others have been gaining input from the campus to develop a long-term vision for OSU.    

“Based on what we learned there is a need for an additional 1.5 million square feet of building space,” Weaver said.

Subsequently, the scope of the assessment was expanded to student services/residential life, the student union, parking and transit, areas west of Monroe and non-athletic sites north of Hall of Fame.     

The board also approved the university’s plans to establish a process for selecting mechanical/electrical, structural and civil engineering consultants to assist with preparing plans and specifications on a project-by-project basis.