During winter recess, contractors have been working to replace flooring in A. Lincoln Commons (on the first floor and the second floor catwalk) and in the lower level of Menard Hall in the Quiznos/kitchen area. The majority of the work in A. Lincoln Commons is complete. There is still some work yet to be done in the lower level of Menard in advance of Quiznos re-opening (anticipated to be the middle of next week). Contractors will continue to work in and around A. Lincoln Commons and the lower level of Menard to finish up the project (including cleaning). In the next week to 10 days, please use caution in and around these areas as contractors work to finish the project. Please contact Tim Ervin in construction management at 786-9605 with any questions or concerns.

During winter recess, contractors will be working to replace flooring in A. Lincoln Commons (first floor and second floor catwalk) and Quiznos/kitchen in the lower level of Menard Hall. Starting on Dec. 14, contractors will begin to mobilize, and A. Lincoln Commons will be largely inaccessible and the Quiznos/kitchen area will be unavailable starting on Dec. 15. We have asked contractors to provide caution tape at open areas that are inaccessible during this time. If you are on campus during winter recess, please use caution in and around these areas. Please contact Tim Ervin in construction management at 786-9605 with any questions or concerns.

Starting today, Dec. 10, a small portion of the curved sidewalk between Menard Hall and Cass Gym will be unavailable. Conduit repairs will require ground work, and a portion of this sidewalk to be removed and replaced. Due to weather concerns, the repairs need to be completed as soon as possible. Contractors will be working in this area and will block off the area with caution tape. Please avoid this area as much as possible and find an alternate pedestrian route between Menard and Cass. This work is anticipated to be completed by Friday, Dec. 14. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please contact Tim Ervin in construction management at 786-9605 with any questions or concerns.

Over the next few months you may notice that some needed prairie maintenance is being done. The area south of Poorman Drive will be the focus of these efforts, which include:

• Conducting a controlled burn. This helps control non-native species and returns nutrients to the soil.
• Removing the 17 pine trees and replacing with 35 native trees around the campus. The eastern white pines are not native to this part of Illinois and certainly not within a prairie. They create a serious safety concern when conducting the burns as they are extremely flammable. Their removal will allow for a more complete burn and maintenance of a more natural appearance.
• Replanting the edges with more native flowers and less grasses.
• Looking to develop volunteer opportunities or volunteer partnerships with outside groups to help maintain the prairies.

The possibility of our prairie areas becoming a part of the Monarch Butterfly Initiative is also being explored. This program is headed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Over the next few months you may notice that some needed prairie maintenance is being done. The area south of Poorman Drive will be the focus of these efforts, which include:

• Conducting a controlled burn. This helps control non-native species and returns nutrients to the soil.
• Removing the 17 pine trees and replacing with 35 native trees around the campus. The eastern white pines are not native to this part of Illinois and certainly not within a prairie. They create a serious safety concern when conducting the burns as they are extremely flammable. Their removal will allow for a more complete burn and maintenance of a more natural appearance.
• Replanting the edges with more native flowers and less grasses.
• Looking to develop volunteer opportunities or volunteer partnerships with outside groups to help maintain the prairies.

The possibility of our prairie areas becoming a part of the Monarch Butterfly Initiative is also being explored. This program is headed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

As a part of the sidewalk lighting improvement project that is ongoing, the crew working on the directional boring machine to the east of Menard Hall inadvertently damaged a conduit by the sidewalk. There is a small amount of water that got into the building downstairs outside the server room (M-0021) in the hallway, and this hallway will be closed until the conduit is repaired. In addition, please be aware of any sidewalk closures that occur in the next few day as some areas of sidewalk immediately outside Menard Hall may need to be removed to repair the damaged conduit.

The sidewalk lighting project for the north side of the Springfield campus has begun. This project will add lighting to the walkways and approaches around Cass Gymnasium, Menard Hall, A. Lincoln Commons, Sangamon Hall, Millennium Center, the bus stop on Poorman Drive, the prairie on Foundation Drive (as you turn off Poorman Drive toward Workforce Careers Center), and the sidewalk to the east of parking lot 16. Occasionally, it will be necessary to close lanes on Foundation Drive and Poorman Drive to complete the installation of utilities and light fixtures. The lane closures will be during normal work hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, and the contractor will be providing traffic control. Please use caution when entering the Springfield campus during these hours.

Your patience is appreciated as we work to improve the safety and security of the Springfield campus. Please don’t hesitate to contact Tim Ervin at 786-9605 with any issues related to this project.

The college is planning an update to the Facilities Master Plan and will be holding the second of two open forum meetings today for employees and students to give feedback. The meeting will be held with Demonica Kemper Architects (DKA) from 4-5 p.m. in the Robert H. Stephens Room.

The college is planning an update to the Facilities Master Plan and will be holding two open forum meetings for employees and students to give feedback.  Demonica Kemper Architects (DKA) will be on campus from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 and again from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4.  Both open forum meetings will be in the Robert H. Stephens Room.

Fan work in Sangamon Hall continues through tomorrow, Aug. 17. The work is taking place in the Sangamon mechanical penthouse and requires the fan on the south of the building to be turned off. While this work is occurring, there may be times that some areas on the first and second floors on the south end may feel a bit stuffy when the fan is off. This will affect areas in and around S1101 through S1104, S1113, offices S1105 through S1110, classrooms/labs S2209 through S2216 and offices S2222 through S2227.  The fan on the north end of the building will continue to provide conditioned air. If anyone should have a concern that areas are becoming too stuffy, please give Tim Ervin, director of construction and EHS, a call. Your understanding during this time frame is appreciated as work is done to improve the overall quality of the mechanical system.