When students return to Eastern Michigan University next
week, they will notice their stroll to class will include
smoother sidewalks and more and varied trees.
The sprucing up of campus is part of a $2.6 million "Concrete
and Classroom Improvements" project that took place this
summer and will continue into the fall.
 |
MEN AT WORK: (from left) EMU President
John Fallon;
Tony Catner, associate vice president,
business and
finance-facilities; and Steve Holda,
interim director of
finance, watch as workers from
V&J Concrete pour a
new section of sidewalk near
Rackham Hall. The work
is part of a $2.6 million
"Concrete and Classrooms"
project on campus. Photo
by Ward Mullens |
Part of the sidewalk replacement takes place along the
tour route used to show potential students main points
of interest on campus.
"We want students to get out of the car, take a look and
see a 'wow factor,'" said Steve Holda, interim director
of business and finance.
"This project represents a strategic investment in several
areas where longstanding needs have been deferred due to
a lack of funding," said EMU President John Fallon.
Some of the more visible sidewalk improvements can be
seen on the mall area from Welch Hall to the Porter Building.
In addition to new sections of concrete along various spots
on the mall, all of the
grass and tree islands along the mall route (near Welch
and Starkweather Hall, past King Hall and to the Marshall
building) have been fitted with curbing. The curbing is
not only more aesthetically pleasing, but aids in water
runoff, Holda said.
New sections or patches of concrete sidewalk also can
be seen outside Bowen, McKenny Union, King Hall, Pierce
Hall, the Marshall and Porter buildings, Mark Jefferson,
Halle Library, Rackham Hall and in the Martin Luther King,
Jr. memorial area.
"We tried to pick the ones in the worst shape. We chose
areas where the sidewalk was uneven or had too many cracks," said
Larry Ward, director of facilities maintenance. "We're
fixing bad sidewalks, improving ADA aspects with the curb
cuts and improving the overall appearance of campus."
The project also includes planting of 135 trees on campus,
to replace those lost to ash borer disease. Trees lost
were primarily pines. To avoid losing trees in the future,
new ones planted will be of diversified species, said Melinda
Ostrander, director of grounds, motor pool and custodial
services.
Species include striped maple, dogwood, tulip, chestnut
oak, white oak, jack pine, witch hazel, hardy rubber tree,
dawn redwood, American plum, American cranberry bush, sassafras,
blue ash and red mulberry.
"The trees will be planted across the campus, taking into
consideration the settings most appropriate for the height,
width and density that the full-grown tree will ultimately
attain as well as the locations that offer the best chance
of survival," she said.
In addition, a number of windows on the north side of
Bowen Field House are being replaced.
The classroom portion of the improvements include replacing
damaged and non-ergonomic chairs, tools, tables and desks;
as well as increasing the level of technology in select
classrooms throughout almost all of the University's classroom
buildings, Holda said.
"We're making improvements so that the students can see it
and feel it," Holda said. "We're trying to build some excitement
on campus for students."
