Dear University Community,
UMSL Facilities Management continues to move our Transform UMSL initiatives forward as we reimagine and redefine our campus footprint through targeted investments. This initiative is a coordinated campus master planning approach that spans five years and includes more than $110 million in public and private investments to reimagine and redefine our campus footprint. Here are some updates that showcase our recent progress.
As part of this work, UMSL Facilities is working on a plan to deconstruct the Social Science and Business Building (SSB) Tower to make way for the SSB Modernization and Expansion. Currently, the SSB Tower has the only elevator supporting the SSB Building. However, the construction of a new elevator to serve SSB is scheduled to be completed by the end of the spring semester. Once this addition is completed, inspected and fully operational for campus use, the SSB Tower will be closed to public access so deconstruction can begin. We anticipate this work to begin in mid-May.
We also anticipate the majority of the SSB Tower will be deconstructed by the start of the fall semester. At that point, the contractor will be hauling away the building material and then some additional site work will follow to prep the site for the SSB Expansion. As the SSB Tower deconstruction/site work is completed, construction on the next phase of the SSB Modernization and Expansion will begin. We have just completed the schematic design for this work and we will soon transition to the next phase of design development.
We are still in the planning phase for limiting access to the Quad as final bids for the deconstruction project are due May 7, however, we expect significant disruptions to foot traffic and building access in the area as we begin work in mid-May.
Once we award the bid, we will work with the contractor to finalize access plans and communicate these plans with our community. In addition, we have established a committee of stakeholders who will identify long-term signage and wayfinding needs throughout the life of the project. At this time, we anticipate the following: closure of access to the Quad.
With this anticipated setup, access to University Libraries, SSB, Express Scripts Hall and Anheuser Busch Hall will remain accessible from the West Drive Garage South or West Drive street parking. This route also provides access to Lucas Hall, however, some may wish to use a better pathway from the MSC to access both Lucas and Clark Halls directly. As planning comes together over the coming weeks, we will continue to communicate via email updates and put in place wayfinding signage around the Quad to support our students, staff, faculty and visitors.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding while we work to transform our UMSL facilities infrastructure from below ground on up.
You can follow our progress and timelines by downloading our monthly Transform UMSL Project Report. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions during this exciting time of transformation at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
