When first entering Fairfield University, one is greeted with the serene landscape and a brand beautiful boulevard… until one travels down the path to be officially welcomed by a pile of over-grown weeds.
The university community was tentatively promised a new Kelley Administrative Center by the fall 2005. As the plans matured, the new date was set as spring 2006.
“There may be confusion as to when the Kelley Center project actually started,” said Rick Taylor, associate vice president for campus planning and operations. “The contractor for the Kelley Center began their preliminary site work this August.”
“The administration has been kept well-informed of the progress of the design, bidding, and construction and is comfortable with the spring, 2006 date,” he added.
Taylor also explained that the site was used as a soil storage area for the Prep building project.
However, the construction does not seem to affect the admission rate.
“I think the Kelley Administrative Center will only add to that beauty and provide a very useful facility for students,” said Judith M. Dobai, Associate Academic Vice President for Enrollment Management. “Visiting students realize construction projects will benefit them in the long run.”
Students seem to disagree.
“I don’t think it was necessary,” said Melissa Wright ’06. “It should be a new dorm building for all the extra students they shouldn’t have accepted.”
Others seem to oppose the architectural design.
“It does not fit in with the existing buildings,” said Erin Spongeberg ’06.
Built from many prefabricated components, the new A.P.K. building will allow for changeable design options so that every room and office can be moved and rearranged.
“The shell of the building is conventional construction. However, the raised floor, interior wiring for power/telephone/data, and heating and cooling are prefabricated in Michigan,” said Taylor. “Most of the interior walls are also pre-fabricated and shipped to the site. This allows for better quality control because the components are made under factory conditions.”
:The assembly-line type construction is more labor efficient, also saving costs,” Taylor added.
The project was originally budgeted at $6.2 million, Presently, there aren’t figures available.
The building was planned in 1995 to allow students access to virtually all of their administrative needs in one building. Currently, the new building is expected to house the offices of Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar, Student Support Services, ResLife, and admissions.
In a report from The Mirror in March 2005, Taylor cited a 10-month building time frame, scheduled for completion in spring 2006, which is still maintained as the expected completion date.
One major question in this new construction is why it was begun while many of the University’s existing buildings require renovation, such as Dolan Hall and Kostka Hall.
“The overall plan includes renovations to Dolan Hall and the Townhouses. This past summer, three blocks of townhouse were completely renovated and a similar project is planned for the coming summer,” said Taylor. “Financial plans are now being prepared that would address Dolan Hall and several other buildings and facilities in the near term.”
In the past two years the University has made renovations and addressed facilities such as Bellarmine Hall, Bannow Hall, and the Quad’s heating system.
“The selected plan called for the construction of the Kelley Center to free space around campus for other needs, such as classrooms and academic centers,” said Taylor.
Many students feel the addition will benefit the University, but acknowledge there are issues that do need to be addressed on campus.
“I think it is a good idea because the population of the school is increasing and they need the workspace,” said Dolan Hall Resident LaQueta Hudson, ’07. “Until Dolan becomes a health hazard, it is not a big problem. Dolan is not the most comfortable place to live, but there is heat, water and lights.”
“It’s a good idea to put all the offices of the school in one place but I think that other things should have been addressed first,” said Dave Kaveneny, ’07, “A new dorm would have been a much smarter idea since there is a housing shortage and Dolan is pretty run down.”
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