The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees yesterday at its regularly scheduled meeting on the Edwardsville campus approved budgets worth nearly $5 million to complete three separate projects on the Edwardsville campus:
- Expansion of the student fitness center (SFC) weight room and renovation of the Vadalabene Center (VC) south entrance at an estimated cost of $2.6 million
- Campus road improvements at an estimated cost of $1.3 million
- Replacement of the Simmons Law Firm Baseball Complex outfield with synthetic turf at an estimated cost of $1,005,500
The SFC project will include an approximately 5,000 square foot expansion of the weight room. This will require rebuilding the VC’s south entrance where it connects with the SFC.
The project will be funded from SFC non-instructional facilities reserve account funds ($1.2 million) and the sale of revenue bonds to be repaid from SFC fee revenues ($1.4 million). A qualifications based selection (QBS) process was used to select AAIC Architects of Collinsville as the architect consultant for the project’s design.
Campus road improvements will include resurfacing Hairpin Dr., a portion of North University Dr. and access to the University’s cross country running course. During the resurfacing, the intersection of North University and North Circle Drives will be improved to reduce traffic congestion and pedestrian conflicts.
The roads project will also involve overlaying Whiteside Rd., East University Dr., Supporting Services Rd., Cougar Lake Dr. and Cougar Village Rd. to extend pavement life. Road markings, traffic signs and accessible curb ramps will also be replaced. Pavement deterioration, because of the effects of normal wear, required attention.
A QBS process was utilized to select Hurst-Rosche Architects of Hillsboro as the engineering consultant for the roads project design. The project will be funded from University Plant funds.
The Simmons Complex’s natural turf outfield will be replaced with a synthetic turf. The new turf will allow for year-round tournament play and training. The project will also replace the perimeter fence and improve drainage.
Oates & Associates of Collinsville was selected through a QBS process to be the engineering consultant for the project design. It will be funded through University Plant Funds.