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January 2016 – Community Forum Newsletter

Next Community Forum


Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 6:30-8:30 p.m.
S.J. Quinney College of Law, Sixth floor, Moot Courtroom Lobby
383 University Street, Salt Lake City

The May 2016 university forum will be an open house with experts (listed in agenda) available from 6:30-8:30 p.m. to present information and have meaningful discussions with community members.

The College of Law is located on the northeast corner of 400 S. and University Street (1400 East)

Free parking is available in the lot to the east of the law building and the Rice-Eccles Stadium parking lot. The university will not be enforcing parking during this meeting. We strongly encourage you to use public transportation, if possible. Take the TRAX University Red Line to the Stadium stop, the Red Route for the university’s free campus shuttles (Carlson Hall stop) and for other public transit options use UTA’s Trip Planner or click the “Transit” option under “Get Directions” on Google maps.

We welcome your attendance, comments, and participation in the discussion.

AGENDA of Next Forum


  • Commuter Services – Traffic and Transportation Master Plan and new shuttle route
    Alma Allred, executive director of Commuter Services, University of Utah
    Melissa Johnson, director of transportation services for Commuter Services, University of Utah
  • Research Park update
    Jonathon Bates, director, University Real Estate Administration
  • Campus construction
    John McNary, director of University Campus Planning for Facilities Management
  • UDOT improvements to safety on campus
    Patrick Cowley, traffic operations engineer, UDOT Region Two
  • Air quality and sustainability efforts
    Myron Wilson, deputy chief sustainability officer, University of Utah Sustainability Office
    Michael Brehm, manager of Environmental Protection, University Environmental Health and Safety

 

Recap of the JAN. 21, 2016 Community Forum


HEALTH SCIENCES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND IMPACTS
Bob Simonton

Why does the U do capital construction?

  • Reinvestment: We need to keep existing facilities operational and running.
  • Excellence: We need to modify existing facilities for student needs and technological advancements.
  • Access: We need to keep up with increase in enrollment and patient demands.

There are three phases construction projects go through: planning (or programming), design, and construction. Most of the projects for Health Sciences are in the planning phase at this point.

Projects in planning phase

Ambulatory Care Center – This is one of three buildings that will replace Building 521, which is the original University Hospital built in 1965. This 228,00-square-foot medical office building will cost an estimated $104 million, and is approved through construction. The site of this building is where most of the hospital’s underground utilities are located, which means they will need to be moved. Substantial completion of this building is anticipated for spring 2018.

Medical Education Building and Discovery Center – This is the second of three buildings that will replace Building 521 becoming the new School of Medicine. This building will require the demolition of Building 521 because it can’t meet current life safety codes. The 200,000-square-foot MED building’s estimated cost is $100 million, and the 50,000-square-foot Discovery Center is estimated at $28 million.

Rehabilitation Hospital – This is the third building that will replace Building 521 making up the new School of Medicine campus. This 150,000-square-foot building will accommodate services displaced from Building 521. Its estimated cost is $90 million.

HSC Utility and Energy Master Plan – The purpose of this project is to free up heating and cooling capacity with energy efficiency projects and to identify the best utility infrastructure to meet current and future needs. The project costs are still being determined, but the university plans on using the energy savings to pay for improvements.

Orthopedics – The design for this 16,500-square-foot increase to the existing Orthopedic Building is currently underway. The project cost is estimated at $13 million, and will allow for physical therapy space and additional patient care.

Projects in the design phase

Madsen Clinic Renovation – The estimated cost of this project is $6 million, and is approved through construction, with additional approvals still needed. This renovation will utilize more of the space available and move 20,000 existing patient visits per year from the hospital to this location, while pushing less acute visits off campus completely to spaces in South Jordan, Sugarhouse, Farmington, and Murray.

Projects currently under construction

Huntsman Cancer Phase IV – This phase of the renovation will provide 225,030 square feet of new research space to focus on children and family cancer, improve long-term quality of life for cancer survivors and accelerate new drug discovery, and treatment for patients. It will also provide office and meeting space. The project began in September 2014, and will cost an estimated $106 million. The concrete and steel is complete, the building’s exterior skin and interior work are progressing. Contractors are parking off site and shuttled using the haul route to reduce the parking impact on campus. At peak construction, there are 200 workers on site.

HSC Parking Garage – This 6-story parking structure will provide just over 1,000 employee parking spaces for Health Science employees, and will cost an estimated $25.4 million. The building will be constructed to allow for two additional floors for office or housing space above it. With the location close to student housing, the back-up alarms on work trucks have been replaced with white noise directional alarms to reduce noise in the area.

Farmington Clinic – This 128,000-square-foot clinic will serve patients in Davis and Weber counties, providing lower acuity care closer to this patient population. This project is estimated at $72.9 million, and will help reduce patient visits to campus by 50,000 visits per year.

Air quality and permitting
The university has a number of central plants and permits for certain size boilers. There are more efficient options, other than increasing the size of those boilers, to take care of the buildings we have. The Energy and Utility Master Plan is looking at integrating more solar, and other renewable energies in new buildings – with all new buildings meeting LEED silver requirements. Research Park is also working to integrate solar into existing buildings.


BIOFIRE UPDATE
Rick Frerichs, principal, FFKR Architects

BioFire currently occupies six buildings along Wakara Way and Chipeta Way in Research Park, but will move into this new building, located on the southeast corner of Research Park along Colorow Road. The building’s primary function will be office space, biomedical assembly, research, and support space.

The new 270,000-square-foot building is 50 percent complete and is designed to meet LEED silver standards. It sits below the Bonneville Shoreline and was built into the hillside so it doesn’t interfere with views or the landscape of the trail. It was built using natural-looking materials to blend in and sits on top of a two-level parking structure.

MAIN CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND IMPACTS
John McNary, director of Campus Planning for Facilities Management

Completed projects

  • In September 2015, the new S.J. Quinney College of Law was completed.
  • In October 2015, the Jon M. & Karen Huntsman Basketball Facility opened its doors.
  • The newly renovated Rio Tinto Kennecott Mechanical Engineering Building also opened in October 2015, allowing roughly 8,000 students to cross the bridge every day.
  • The Northwest Parking Garage and the Central Parking Garage both opened in August 2015. The Central Parking Garage includes a play field on the roof.

Projects in the planning phase
Transportation Master Plan – This plan will include a comprehensive look at parking and transportation issues in and around campus and recommend solutions for all transportation modes that support the university’s goal of reducing single occupant trips, reducing traffic, and lowering emissions. The university has received the final plan from Horrocks Engineering. Visit
http://facilities.utah.edu/campus-planning/transportation-master-plan.php to view the complete plan.

Student Housing Planning Study – Research indicates if first-year students live on campus, graduation rates increase. This study will look at providing housing for freshmen and upper class students. Also, if students are living on campus, they aren’t commuting, but utilizing the campus transportation systems, campus dining, etc.

Projects in the design phase
Orson Spencer Hall – As the main classroom facility on campus, used by some 20,000 students each year and by over 60 different departments, this new facility will provide for an innovative space designed to enhance the educational experience of students for the 21st century. In December 2016, we’ll be looking at permitting and bidding and shooting for construction in 2017. Its estimated cost is approximately $66.5 million.

Alumni House – The expansion of this building is projected to cost $10 million and will help accommodate large university groups that are currently having to go off campus. It will also be a resource to community members to use for events, weddings, etc.

Ski Team Facility – The ski team currently works out of a shed and this addition will allow them their own space to store equipment and meet. The proposed $2.4 million building will be located between McCarthy track and the baseball field.

Business Loop – The remodel of the Business Loop, estimated at $16.3 million, will close the street to through traffic near the Tanner Dance and Education Building. There will also be a traffic circle for people going to the business school to drop off and provide access to the parking terrace from both east and west.

Executive MBA Building – This 150,000-square-foot building will allow for the expected 4 percent growth in the Executive MBA Program. Sixty-five students per faculty member will be doing an online MBA instead of coming to campus. The program runs on Friday nights and Saturdays when traffic is already lower. Construction is projected to begin during the first quarter of 2019. This project is estimated at $40.6 million and has been approved by the legislature.

Projects currently under construction
Lassonde Studios – This project is estimated to cost $44.4 million and will be residential housing for 400 entrepreneurial students. Works stations throughout the first floor will provide work space for students and is expected to open in August 2016.

The Gary & Ann Crocker Science Center at the George Thomas Building – This $55 million renovation and expansion will turn this building into a state of the art teaching and research center. The university is working with the State Historic Preservation Office for the historical significance of the building, while also integrating seismic upgrades, and reconfiguration of space.

Infrastructure Project – In January 2013 a sizable upgrade to electrical infrastructure and substations began. This project will continue into 2017. The Critical Infrastructure Project is a crucial update to provide modern, safe, and reliable electrical service to our campus buildings.

Eccles Tennis Facility – This facility is estimated at $2.5 million and will provide fixed seating for 360 spectators at the matches.

Wall Mansion – This $9.1 million renovation includes converting the former LDS Business College into both the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy Administration and the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Interior details of the mansion will be preserved, while upgrading offices to meet technological needs of the Utah Policy Institute.


COMMUTER SERVICES UPDATE
Alma Allred

Electric vehicles and charging stations
The university installed 10 electric vehicle charging stations on campus and the U’s Sustainability Office has been engaged in a program called U Drive Electric to get people to buy electric vehicles to try to help reduce air quality issues coming from vehicles. Between 40-60 people purchased electric vehicles over the winter holidays so the charging stations have been updated to pay-by-phone metered parking stalls, but Commuter Services and the Sustainability Office are working on a more flexible system. These chargers aren’t just for the campus community; anyone can pull into those stalls and charge their vehicles — provided they pay the meter.

WAVE electric bus
The university’s first electric shuttle vehicle on campus has been operating since January. It is charged inductively through a system developed by WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification) — a technology spinoff from Utah State University. The U’s project was the first commercial application in America and uses a rebuilt diesel bus that is entirely electric.

Phase one of the roadway for the U’s electric bus to run north/south through campus is complete and phase two will begin sometime after Commencement in May. The bus will begin using the inner campus roadway for transit services this fall.

Parking enforcement
The university stops enforcing parking in campus lots at 8 p.m. If there are major events on campus, enforcement stops when the event begins.

Additional announcements


TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC MEETING
June 2016 | All are welcome

The next meeting will be scheduled for June. An announcement will be sent out as soon as the date has been finalized.