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Show Library Page 5 The Signpost Monday, March 28,2005 continued from front during the construction when students ran't access the library, and we will maintain a handicap access from .Lampros Hall to the Library." The construction plan involves removing the concrete walkway and stairs on the west side of the building to make the library entrance at the lower level, solving the pooling water problem. The breezeway running beneath the building will be enclosed to connect the lower level of the north and south wings of the library. "All that space that is darkunder the building becomes interior space in the library," Cox said. Cox said that when the new entrance is completed, instead of walking in at the middle level people will walk in at the lower level. The circulation desk will relocate from the middle level to the lower level and will be near the entrance. Also, a new stairway will be located inside the building near the lower level entryway. Although the construction on the east side has begun, the construction on the west won't begin until after graduation. "The sidewalk and stairs will be pulled up in big pieces and hauled away," Hubbard said. "There won't be a west entrance during summer semester." Hubbard said the summer semester students will be the most inconvenienced by the construction because it is scheduled to be completed in August, before students return for fall semester 2005. "Its an amazing amount of work for the amount of time," Hubbard said. "There will be great synergy between the union building, library and Lampros Hall." Hubbard said a very good architectural firm and contractor have been hired who are committed to meeting the August deadline. . The library entrance re j model is only the first piece of a master plan meant to improve the campus. According to Norm Tarbox, WSU vice president of administrative services, the master plan includes redoing the library entrance, renovating the Shepherd Union Building, and Buildings 1 ,2, 3, and 4 will be replaced. Also, the quad by these buildings will be relandscaped. "This plan will probably take 15 years to fully realize," Tarbox said. "We are at various stages for each component of the central campus master plan. However, construction has now commenced with the first piece - the library project." Cox said when the library remodel is completed very minimal landscaping will be placed. "It doesn't make sense to spend money on landscaping until the union building construction begins," Cox said. "It's becominga rather busy area for construction right now." The library entrance remodel will cost approximately $1.2 million. "No student money will be used; it's coming from the state," Cox said. Tarbox said there are two sources of capital funding the Legislature provides. "Capital development is for big projects - in excess of $1.5 million," Tarbox said. "This is where we got funding for the Swenson Building and where we are seeking funding for the classroom building that will replace Buildings 1 and 2. The other source is called capital improvements. This money goes to smaller projects - less than $1.5 million. This is the source that is funding the library entrance remodel." Remodeling of the Stewart Library entrance is under way and scheduled to be completed in August before fall semester classes begin. The project will cost approximately $1.2 million. The remodel is the first of many projects as part of a master plan that includes renovating the Shepherd Union Building and replacing buildings 1,2,3 and 4. or six capital .^improvement projects funded each year. "In past years we have used this money to replace sidewalks and sprinkler The Legislature provides a pot of funding every year, and then a State .Building Board determines which capital improvement projects will be funded. WSU usually gets five systems, remodel . the Education Building, repair roofs and pave lots," Tarbox said. "This year, the institution and the Building Board agree that the library entrance project is urgent enough to be funded by this source." You can reach reporter Heather Hunt-Wood by calling 626-7655. LET US WORK ON YOUR SMILE FOR A CHANGE. U.S. A I R F O R C E ClaSS INTO THE ILUI Farr's Jewelry "FIND the ROCK" contest FREE 3/B Ct. DIAMOND $1400 retail Value Looks like you'll have to Brave to weather to "Find the Rock" f -r V Isn't a free diamond worth it? See clue #2 in today's classifieds .*• km Join the Air Force and receive a $30,000 bonus. 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