Connections

Aerial view

When we made the decision to keep the existing George S. Eccles business building and add Huntsman Hall, we knew certain things – based on fire and building codes:

• The buildings would have to structurally independent of one another; 
• The separation between the two buildings would need to be 24 feet or more – except in the limited places where the two buildings connect; and 
• We wanted to have the two buildings integrated together into one complex that would be highly functional and easy to navigate.

Steel supports connecting the buildings

With this challenge in mind, we visited various universities that have done similar things – that is, connect a newer business building with older business building. We were satisfied it could be done well. We decided to locate the connections on the NW and SE corners of the existing building (see above aerial view). These connections will be on 3 different levels – Level 1 (basement); Level 2 (ground floor); and Level 3.

It’s one thing to imagine these connections, but it’s another to see them being constructed (see adjacent photo). A few months ago, I mentioned holes were being punched into the Eccles building. Those holes were punched in the locations where these connections are now being constructed.

It’s great to see the two buildings coming together.

Ken Snyder

Relief is on the Way

During renovations

I mentioned a few months ago that we would renovate the bathrooms in the Eccles building this summer. And then I told about how the bathroom renovation was inconveniencing us just a few weeks ago. We’re getting close to the end of the tunnel. And that "tunnel" looks pretty good.

Several of our newly renovated bathrooms should open for business next week. After 44 years of well-worn usage, the old is out and the new is in. And some beautiful relief is on the way.

Before renovations

This past week, we completed the tile work on the first two bathrooms that are being renovated. The women’s bathroom on the 1st floor (basement), and the faculty bathroom on the 5th floor. New floor tile. New wall tile. New lights. New Fixtures (mostly). Don’t they look great!

Ken Snyder

The Lights Are On In 116

I've talked a lot about the improvements we are making in our existing Eccles business building this summer. One of those improvements just got installed last week – new lights in classroom 116.

Classroom 116 is the only regular classroom in the basement of the Eccles building. All of the other

New lights in 116

classrooms are computer labs. The lights in 116 go back to time immemorial. They may be the original lights when the building was finished in 1970, but no one is sure. That’s how old they look. And how dim they were. The lights were so dim that I’ve heard some students refer to 116 as “the dungeon.” In my humble opinion, it is not good when students think of a classroom as a “dungeon.” 

Last week, we installed brand new LED lights in 116 (see attached photo). We turned the lights on. We measured the light. It’s almost twice the level of lumens as we had with the old lights. The lights are on! 


We will also be installing new desks and chairs in 116 in a few weeks. When students come back to school next month, they will have no idea what older students mean when they talk about taking a class in the “dungeon.”

Ken Snyder