Construction to help Journalism School expand
By Shawn Davis, posted 4/19/06

When many students returned from winter break this semester, they noticed something different about the quad. It was fenced off, there were machines everywhere and construction workers were running around in hard hats. This sight left many students wondering what exactly is going on.

All the construction on the north side of the Francis Quadrangle is to develop the brand new Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute and has been going on since students left in December.

“The project will involve three structures,” associate director of Campus Facilities, Phil Shocklee said. “The sociology building will be totally renovated, part of Walter Williams hall will be renovated, and a new building will be constructed to connect the two existing buildings.”

The construction is being headed by two local contractors, Sircal Contracting Inc. and Kozeny-Wagner Inc. The Quad is fenced off, forcing many students and faculty to walk around.

 “The fenced area near the columns is being used as a staging area for construction materials because space is very limited near the construction site,” Shocklee said. “The area will be restored after the project is complete.”

The new building will feature many amenities to help journalism students. It will also help keep the journalism school as one of the top programs in the country. It will feature a new television studio and editing rooms, which will help students gain more hands-on experience. Along with the state of the art facilities that will be featured there, it will house a seminar and meeting room, an information library and even a coffee shop. The institute will be used primarily by journalism majors and will offer a more modern building amidst the older journalism building located on the north side of the quad. Construction is slated to be finished in fall 2007.

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