UC Progress Update

Dear Adelphi Community,

As we approach the six month mark of the renovation of the Ruth S. Harley University Center, we see the major transformation beginning to take shape. From outside the construction fence, it can be hard to tell just how much progress has been made, so we’re pleased to offer this UC Progress update on the activities that have been completed to date.

Once the building was completely vacant in the beginning of June, with all community members relocated on campus and all furniture removed, the work got under way.

Building and Site Preparation

• Utilities were disconnected and the site was enclosed with safety fencing. The decorative Adelphi panels, made of translucent mesh, were added to the fencing to help keep dust and debris contained and provide information about the renovation.
• Parking Lot 2 was modified to increase safety of the community: speed bumps were installed and a new pedestrian walkway was created.
• Select trees were marked for protection and surrounded by protective fences.

Exterior Demolition and Excavation

• Brick patios and concrete walkways surrounding the UC were deconstructed and removed.
• Major excavation began on the east side of building, facing Parking Lot 2, to prepare for footings and the foundation of an addition. Steel reinforcing bars (rebar) were installed and concrete was poured to create the walls of the east addition foundation.
• The concrete walls and foundation of the west patio were removed.
• Major excavation for the west addition, facing Levermore Hall, has created space for the outdoor amphitheater and dining extension.
• The concrete loading dock at the north side of the building was removed.

Interior Demolition

• Interior demolition began on the third level and progressed to the second, first, then lower levels. On the third floor, all walls, doors and flooring were removed.
• The UC had many brick covered interior walls that had to be deconstructed to support upgraded infrastructure; the bricks were saved for use in the design of the new UC.
• Second floor demolition included most walls, doors, corridors, atrium and the floor of the Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom.
• The freight elevator and mechanical equipment such as air conditioning and fans were removed.

Renovation

• Just as demolition progressed from top to bottom, so too has rebuilding.
• Renovation of the third floor began with preparation to infill the open space in the center of the building to increase usable floor space, and framing of the new room layout.
• Beginning on the third floor, plumbing and electric lines have been installed and insulated.
• Heating and air conditioning ducts and air conditioner piping are being installed.
• The Thomas Dixon Lovely Ballroom has been reframed, including new soffits in the ballroom; the ceiling has been painted and ductwork has been wrapped.
• Work has begun on a new Fire Pump Room and a power transformer vault has been constructed on the south side of the building.
• Atrium air space on the second and third floors has been infilled with steel framing and new floors.
• Framing of walls and installation of electric and plumbing continue from the top of the building to the bottom and now includes work in the lower level.
• Sheetrocking of walls has begun. The third floor is entirely framed and sheetrocked, and this activity will continue downward through building.

Exterior Construction

• The concrete loading dock at the north side of the building, facing South Avenue, was reconstructed.
• Concrete has been poured to create the foundation and walls for the east side addition, which faces Parking Lot 2.
• The new east foundation wall has been waterproofed and foundation drainage is in place; the excavation area has been backfilled with existing soil.
• Concrete footings to support the foundation of the west addition have been poured.
• Rebar-reinforced concrete walls for the west addition have been constructed and waterproofed.
• Minor excavations around the building have provided access to water mains for upgrades to the UC’s water supply.
• Drywells have been installed under the east addition and are on site for installation under the west addition.

For a visual view of this work, we invite you to check out the photo gallery on the UC Progress website. A live video feed is available there as well.

This morning, Thursday, November 14, we received a large delivery of steel for the construction of the east addition. Within the next week or two, the steel will arrive forthe west side addition. We will be sure to notify our community of any impact to your daily activities caused by the deliveries, such as temporary closures of one entrance to Parking Lot 2. Please watch your email, the UC Progress website, social media and the AU2GO app.

With all of this work taking place, we’re pleased to report that we have been able to accommodate all meeting and event space requests within our university and have not had to utilize the agreements for offsite space that were secured by the Office of Auxiliary and Event Services.

When our UC reopens in Fall 2020, it will be a vastly enhanced center of student and academic life at Adelphi University. It will include an enlarged, glass-walled student lounge, a lactation room, fully accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms, improved accessibility; modernized technology and video recording options for conferences, a UC Café that is nearly doubled in size, a full Starbucks, and a beautiful outdoor space for dining, classes or lounging. It will offer flexible meeting and conference spaces for the academic community; a state-of-the-art ballroom for large meetings and events;a completely redesigned contemporary art gallery with twice the exhibition space, enhanced by improved lighting and climate control, additional space for the display of artwork throughout the building, and much more.

We will continue to communicate with you throughout the renovation project and encourage you visit the UC Progress website often and to utilize the AU2GO mobile app, where you can enable push notifications for the topics that are important to you.

We value your feedback and welcome it. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email UCprogress@adelphi.edu.

Sincerely,

The UC Progress Team