THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

In 1998-1999 the College Council created the Facilities Needs and Planning Committee (FNPC) in order to follow up on 21st Century Report recommendations.A report of the committee issued in May 1999 reviewed the recommendations of CTFC, re-ordered and added some priorities, restated the need for an aggressive plan for deferred maintenance, and outlined a plan for better communication for both on- and off-campus constituencies about building projects.

Facilities Recommendations in Order of Priority:

Develop a Center for the Arts.
[FNPC:Begin a planning exercise for a center for the arts.

• Preliminary programming for the Music, Theater, Dance, Media Studies programs, and the Art Gallery, Winter 2000
• Art Gallery was separated from the program and commissioned as an independent building, Summer 2001
• Media Studies elected to be dropped from further programming because of poor location and the lack of synergies with the other programs and spaces, Summer 2001
• Programming exercise for re-use of Cowling Recreation Center by Media and Dance, Fall 2001
• Art Museum Steering Committee formed to investigate the programmatic and design issues of an independent structure, Winter 2002 and continuing

Expand the capacity of the library.
[FNPC:Begin a planning exercise for library expansion and resolve the issue of a separate science library.]

• Campus discussion of the science collection location in Spring 2000 resulted in a decision not to build a separate science library, but a commitment was made to approve the housing and access to science materials in Gould Library.
• A master planning study was completed in the late Fall of 2001.The study suggested the installation of compact shelving to forestall the expansion of the Library for 5-7 years and provide for improved access and housing of science and other materials, as well as improvements in common study spaces. The compact shelving will be installed over the Summer of 2002-2003 as Phase One of Library Renovation.
• An additional study will be commissioned in the Summer of 2005 to determine future planning directions.

Ensure a sufficient number of high-quality classrooms.

• Language and Dining Center completed, nine new classrooms with full technology (audio/visual/computer), Spring 2001
• Leighton Hall Classroom 304 was remodeled with full technology, Summer 2001
• Scoville Hall Classroom 106 will be remodeled with full technology, Summer 2002
• Olin Hall Classroom 141 will be remodeled with full technology, Summer 2003
• Olin Hall Classroom 149 will be remodeled with full technology, Summer 2004
• Boliou Hall Classroom 104 will be remodeled with full technology, Summer 2003

Develop a Center for Modern Languages.

• Language and Dining Center, completed, Spring 2001

Construct additional on-campus student housing.
[FNPC:Begin a phased-in plan to address the shortage and condition of student housing.]

• 100 units of housing constructed in apartment style housing, Winter 2000
• Dow house (9 beds) completely renovated, Summer 2001
• Geffert House (8 beds) completely renovated, Fall 2001
• Parr House converted from administrative purposes to housing, Fall 2001
• Study for the renovation of Dacie Moses House, Winter 2002
• Study for additional student housing as part of an Environmental Studies program, Winter/Spring 2002
• Development of a combined housing plan with student and faculty housing, Winter 2002

Consolidate several offices into a single student administrative services center.

• This has sustained no ongoing interest and has been dropped as of Fall 1999

Develop and improve academic space for departments in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Programs.
[FNPC:Begin planning for renovation and reassignment of Leighton spaces for new functions.Begin discussions.]

• Language and Dining Center completed, Spring 2001
• Academic and administrative space study, 2000-2001
• Philosophy and Religion Department areas renovated, Summer 2001
• Human Resources moved to renovated Strong House, Summer 2001
• Financial Aid moved to renovated Henry House, Fall 2001
• Alumni Affairs moved to renovated Bird House, Fall 2001
• Publications area moved and renovated, Spring 2002
• Summer Programs space expanded, Spring 2002
• Treasurer's area renovated, Summer 2002
• Business Office renovated, Summer 2002
• History Department renovated, Summer 2002
• Renovation for unspecified academic department, Winter 2003
• Environmental and Technology Studies moves to renovated spaces in Goodsell Observatory, Summer 2002

Renovate Burton kitchen, serving, and dining areas.

• Begin planning and design, Andersson•Wise, Winter 2002
• Schedule construction, Summers 2003, 2004, and possibly 2005

Renovate Scoville.

• New roof and exterior renovation, Summer 2001
• Complete renovation scheduled in 2015
• Renovate Goodsell, perhaps as a Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.
• Environmental and Technology Studies will move into the building, Summer 2002
• Architectural study of the exterior and accessible issues, Winter 2002
• Classroom renovated, Summer 2002
• Accessibility improvements, Summer 2002
• Scheduled for complete renovation in 2009

Other Recommendations From CTFC:

"Eliminate all temporary buildings from the main campus in the next decade."

• The Modern Language Center Building was removed, Summer 2001
• The Leighton Annex was removed, Winter 2002
• The Science Annex will be removed, Summer 2002

There is a need for greater communication [about facilities projects].

• Annual forums for campus and neighbors, Winter 1999 and ongoing
• Quarterly "Construction and Planning Updates" in Currently @ Carleton, Summer 1999 and ongoing
• Annual report to College Council, Fall 2000 and ongoing

"Carleton should…make all academic buildings accessible by 2010."

• The Recreation Center is completely accessible, Spring 2000
• The Language and Dining Center is completely accessible, Spring 2001
• Two apartments of the 23 in the new student housing are completely accessible, Winter 2001
• Construction of an accessible ramp and power assist door for Goodhue Hall, Summer 2001
• Power assist door in West Gym, Summer 1999
• Construction of an accessible ramp to Olin Hall, Summer 1999
• Power assist doors in Leighton, Olin and Mudd Halls, Summer 2000
• Construction of the sidewalk between Lyman Lakes and LDC to complete an accessible walkway from Second and Division Streets to the Recreational Center, Summer 2001
• Study for the feasibility of accessibility of Laird Hall, Winter 2002
• Study for the feasibility of accessibility of Nourse Hall, Winter 2002
• Accessibility improvements on first floor of Goodsell Observatory, Summer 2002
• Created a standing committee to assist in the prioritization of accessible improvements on campus - approximately $100,000 annually, Winter 2002
• Accessibility to Severance and Burton Halls will be included in the renovation of West Dining

Other Recommendations of FNPC

Begin to address the backlog of deferred maintenance more aggressively, if possible, with additional draw from the endowment.

• Endowment draw adjustment to support deferred maintenance, 2000
• The "Long-Range Capital Plan" for major renovations, Winter 2002
• Building Component Survey to specify replacement schedule, Winter 2002
• 4-year cycle Building Maintenance Plan for student residences implemented, Summer 2002

Improve the stock of housing available for faculty and staff.

• Assessment of faculty housing needs, 2000
• Integrated planning for student, faculty, and staff housing, 2000 and ongoing
• Proposal for new faculty housing on Second and Union, 2002

Increase storage space on campus.

• Storage buildings constructed, Summer 1999, Spring 2002

Grounds Projects:

• Created a green quad adjacent to LDC, Nourse and Myers Halls, Summer 2001
• Created a green drainage system for new parking lot, Summer 2001
• Install safety lights at the crosswalk near the West Gym, Spring 2002
• Renovate the front entry into Johnson/Alumni Guest House, Summer 2002
• Renovate the entry into Musser Hall, Summer 2002
• Upgrade the sidewalk system along the north side of the Chapel, Summer 2002
• Create a baseball field near the Recreational Center, Summer 2002
• Create an entrance plaza at Second and Division Streets, Summer 2002

Other Projects:

• Campus signage, design and implementation, 2001-2002
• Study for exterior renovation of Willis Hall, Summer 2000
• Modern Language Center renovated for Arb/Maintenance Facility, Summer 2001
• Instituted energy conservation measures, 1996-2002:
• • Electric motors have been replaced with Variable Speed Drive (VSD)
  • Installation of campus-wide Energy Management System
  • Installation of high-efficiency motors
  • High-efficiency lighting retrofits in buildings
  • Use of high-efficiency lighting in new buildings
  • Commissioned a study to evaluate energy conservation measures
  • Conducting a preliminary study on the feasibility of Wind Power
  • Use of Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide in new building planning
• Upgrading the campus electrical infrastructure, Summer 2002 – 2006
• Enhanced fire safety upgrading for academic and administrative buildings, Summer 2002 – 2005