The first phase of the campus building renewal project, which involves extensive overhauls of Buildings A and D on Abbotsford campus, has been completed.
On March 2, the updates feed on the project on UFV’s website stated the revitalization of Building A was “50 per cent complete.”
Renovations to the building include replacement of the exterior façade and interior updates such as new corner windows in computer lab A302, a new floor for room A402, repainting and polishing of the interior.
IT Services has also been working on an upgrade to the digital infrastructure in the east section of the building. The upgrades include improved wi-fi speed and connectivity, data cable replacements to ensure more reliable network service for lab workstations and laptops, and upgraded and expanded network switches to reduce bottlenecks and increase reliability, according to Nicolle Bourget, project manager of UFV building renewal project.
The scaffolding covering the east end of Building A is now being taken down and re-erected further west toward the biology labs. Scaffolding will be erected over this area over four to six weeks, with work taking place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. While the biology classrooms themselves are not subject to renovations, the nearby work has made the rooms unavailable for the winter and summer semesters. During this time, biology classes that would normally be held at Abbotsford are relocating to Chilliwack campus. Rooms A234, A232, A336, A334, A332a, and A328 will be affected by the new phase of construction.
While the east side scaffolding is being taken down, furniture and audio-visual equipment is being reinstalled in the classrooms that were closed. “The classrooms should reopen in mid-April,” Bourget said .
The renewal project is proceeding on schedule, and Bourget estimates work on the next section of Building A will take approximately four months, once the scaffolding is in place. “Our goal is that scaffold removal, landscaping, and concrete work will take to the end of August,” said Bourget. All classrooms in Building A are scheduled to reopen in time for the Fall 2020 semester.
After work on Building A is complete, renovations will begin on Building D, which suffers from the same issues as A, such as a run-down exterior and outdated utilities. This stage of the renewal is expected to start in September 2020.
“We know that there will continue to be disruption as a result of this work and want to thank everyone for their patience as we move forward with these substantial improvements,” Bourget said. “This project will ultimately remediate and enhance the learning and physical environment for students, faculty, and staff for many years to come.”
