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Valenti awaits facelift

Renovations for the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication building, originally set to begin in January, have been postponed until mid-August.

Administrators gave no reason for the delay.

Despite the slow start to the construction, senior project manager Dean Ruck said progress has been made in the $3 million renovation and expansion project.

“The documents for the project have just been completed by the architect,” he said. “(And) the general contractor will be bidding the work in July.”

Communications faculty and staff were relocated to trailers by the Law Center on Jan. 19 in anticipation of the construction.

“Any move is an inconvenience,” communication adviser Les Oliver said. “It’s a trailer park and there is little, if any, privacy. We have adjusted as well as we can.”

The Daily Cougar was relocated to the University Center Satellite due to the construction, while most classes in media production were relocated to the KUHT-TV studios.

Students and faculty can expect disturbances while construction takes place, Ruck said.

“Construction in an occupied building is inherently disturbing to the occupants,” he said. “Facilities planning and construction, as well as the contractor, (will) try to minimize disturbances by performing particularly noisy work during off hours whenever possible.”

Ruck said Bartlett Cocke General Contractors has been selected as the general contractor for the renovation of approximately 15,500 square feet, which will include an updated media production studio, studio support spaces, two classrooms and new faculty and staff offices and a new entry way. Approximately 4,150 sq ft will be added to the northeast corner of the building for a new media production studio and support space.

Additional reporting by Gordon Furneaux

1 Comment

  • Administrators should give a reason. Explain why there was an 8 month delay! I see other construction projects on campus that move quickly like Cemo Hall, Hilton renovations and the new parking garage. Why has the Valenti stalled without communicating why?

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