North Texas Daily

Jesse Priest / Staff Writer

Over the summer, UNT will revamp and continue several construction projects around campus, but the 28.42 inches of rain Denton has received this year has impacted operations.

Donald Lynch, director of Systems Facilities, said most of the construction projects will be completed by or during the fall semester. With the ever increasing rainfall, some of the construction projects have been delayed but are still on schedule.

“It’s increased challenges for the companies,” Lynch said. “If it’s raining, you can’t lay brick or pour concrete.”

University Union

The long-awaited student Union has been in the works since April 2013. The goal of this project is to expand and renovate the Union to accompany the growing number of students by adding 100,000 square feet. The projected budget for the Union is $130 million, said Zane Reif, senior director for the University Union.

“It [University Union] will be completed a bit later in fall,” Reif wrote in an email. “The weather has caused a bit of a delay.”

The Beck Group and Warrior Construction are the contractors rebuilding the Union.

Rawlins Hall

Rawlins Hall, on the corner of Maple Drive and Avenue D, is a more recent project that began in May 2014. Vaughn Construction, one of the largest contractors in Texas, is adding the newest residence hall to the campus. The project’s approved budget is $37.1 million.

About 130 to 170 workers are there each day, when the weather permits, working on Rawlins, project manager Janna Morgan said. “The roof is on, the windows are in, porcelain tiles are down and the workers are painting the interior now,” she said.

Avenue D will remain closed for the duration of the construction.

Science Research Building

The building is going to have exterior work done, adding new brick, to correct waterproofing issues. There is still no assigned construction company as of yet for the Science Research Building, Lynch said.

Since a company has not been hired for the job, the date is pushed back June 2016. The projected budget is $3 million.

Marquis Hall

Located next to the General Academic Building on Mulberry Street, Marquis Hall is uninhabited but won’t be for long as its completion is just around the corner. Set to finish August 2015, students will soon fill the hall and operations will resume as normal.

The interior of Marquis Hall is being renovated by Joeris General Contractors. The budget is around $2.5 million, according to Lynch.

West Hall

West Hall, located on the corner of Chestnut Street and North Texas Boulevard, is getting a face lift as well.

The exterior on the north, east and west sides are being renovated as well as the lobby and front desk area.

City crews worked on the road in front of the dorm this week to repair damages from the busses that stop to pick up students at the location.

The renovation started in May and is still set to be finished August 2015.

Mean Green Village

Roofs on various buildings in Mean Green Village, a collection of athletic complexes on Bonnie Brae Street, including the Warranch Tennis Complex will undergo repairs until June 2015.

Crumley Hall

The south side of Crumley Hall has been under construction to add new drainage behind the building where flooding occurs constantly. It is set to be completed August 2015.

Graphic by Edward Balusek – Editor-in-Chief

Featured Image: UNT campus is under construction this summer as workers continue to move toward completion of the Master Plan. File Photo by Byron Thompson – Contributing Photographer