Theatre previews

Here's a sneak peek at the tiered theatre-style classroom

with left-handed writing arms on the aisle.

Woodwork on the ramp is nearly done.

Here's the entrance to Counseling:

And a first for any part of Bisdorf: windows that open. Here's a screen awaiting installation,

and there are built in window seats in the halls.

Finally, a view of the rain garden from a second-floor window:

One month to go -- watch for more completion details and the big move!

Breakthrough, or Getting Connected

We slip behind the billowing sheets of plastic on the third floor of Bisdorf Phase II

to show you how Phases II and III are coming together.

The brown brick wall is the exterior edge of Phase II. We're looking through the connecting area and the opening with the automatic fire door into the third floor of Phase III.

Going Green

There's a lot of green to be seen in Phase III, both on the outside

and on the inside:

But there are also some exciting environmentally green features in Phase III which you might not notice, including

• Motion sensors to turn off lights when classrooms are not in use
  
• More attractive and efficient ceiling light fixtures with two bulbs instead of four
  

• Multiple switches to control classroom lighting so you can use only what you need

• Exit signs that use energy-efficient LED technology
  

• Fume hoods that will vent the conditioned air and fumes to the outside but capture and recycle the heating/cooling energy.
  

• And outdoors, a rain garden that will capture storm water and prevent it running off into the nearby creek. This space will have plantings selected for their ability to catch and hold rainwater over a sand bed that will allow the water to soak in and re-charge the aquifer.
  

Up On the Roof

With apologies to the Drifters, we climbed way up to the top of the stairs and got away from the rat-race. Enjoy the view from the roof of Phase III.


Can you see the Washington Monument and Air Force Memorial on the horizon?




Some of us can are more willing to stand near high edges than others.

We believe this is the staff hot tub.

From the ground you won't see the air conditioners, but aren't you glad to know they're there?

And that last picture in the previous posting was another view of what you see on the right side of this photo.

Infrastructure

Here's a peek at the insides of Phase III before they're all covered up.

Who knows where this was taken? Answer in the next post.

We Deal with Hard Hat Hair So You Don't Have To

On Thursday, March 13, Dan Priest led library staff members Brandee Worsham, Matt Todd, Jean Hogan, Kevin O'Hagan, Anne Anderson and Sylvia Rortvedt on a tour of Phase III. (You won't see Sylvia in a hard hat since she had the camera.) Join us for a look at Phase III which is rapidly taking shape for a mid-July completion date.

Student services hallway on Level 1; note the cool curvy wall.

Here's the entrance to the provost's suite.

Student lounge area on Level 2. Each floor has a similar space for students, close to where Phase III connects to Phase II. Each will have an good view of a tree which puts on a great show in spring and fall.

The color scheme is emerging,




and the science labs are taking shape.

You can see the seating tiers in the round theatre:

And of course, there will be ladies' rooms

and mens' rooms.

This doesn't happen without lots of planning and plans; this is the paperwork for just the drywall part of the project.

And finally, here's a view of Phases I and II with a reflection of Phase III:

Thanks, Dan, and bye for now! Watch for new posts coming soon on infrastructure and what we discover "up on the roof."

What Is It?

What is it? Here's the answer from Dan Priest:
"It is a corrugated metal storm water management structure. Basically,it's function is to collect rainwater from the roof and the ground on the west side of the new building and hold it and slowly discharge the collected rainwater into the existing streams. This decreases the velocity of the runoff water and mitigates streambed erosion and helps to filter suspended solids and sediment."

What is the large hole with big metal tubes adjacent to Phase III? Some have guessed it is the campus cyclotron, others say it is the Tomb of the Unknown Faculty Member.

We will ask Dan Priest and post the answer here, but before we do that ...

... YOU tell us what you think it is.