Spring Break
Oversight Committee Evaluates Construction
Anna Blaise
Issue date: 10/9/06 Section: News
An oversight committee which supervises UConn Construction Project met for the first time on Sept. 20 at the UConn Health Center, according to Barry Fieldman, interim chief operating officer.
The purpose of the committee is to make sure that the "UConn 2000 Project," which consists of the construction of big buildings, classrooms and dorms, conducts a well-delivered and safe construction of buildings based on UConn policies, according to Jim Bradley, interim execute director of architectural and engineering services.
This committee was appointed by state legislature in August and they met as a group on Sept. 20 to discuss their plans and how they will proceed with the supervising of the construction project, according to Fieldman. The group has seven members who are familiar with construction background, construction management and mechanical engineers, Fieldman said.
According to Barry, the committee was formed because the Connecticut governor was concerned with the construction of some buildings in the past. Barry said the buildings were not built with the right fire and safety codes. According to Thomas Ritter, chairperson of the committee and a member of the board of Trustees, among that among fire and safety codes, there were charges to the "differed maintenance," a budget that is not supposed to be used, whenever the construction site people went over budget.
Therefore, the governor appointed three members from the Board of Trustees of UConn and four members from his choice to oversee the construction site and make sure everything runs smoothly, Ritter said.
"[We] feel confident that we corrected the mistakes of the past and everything will be done correctly," Ritter said.
Not much has been happening as of yet because the committee was just formed, Bradley said. The committee will meet once every quarter and will discuss the upcoming projects of the UConn 2000 Project, supervising everything that has to be done under this project.
One of the main projects the committee is working on is the supervision of the Arjona and Monteith building project, which is known as The Classroom Project and is worth 2 billion dollars, said Bradley. By 2010, Arjona and Monteith will be replaced by new buildings and classrooms which will be constructed on Dow Field between the Babbidge Library and Hawley Armory, where the old Co-op used to be, Bradley said.
Although the construction site had some issues on handling these previous projects, they did a good job constructing the new Student Union and Charter Oak Apartments, Bradley said. However, this committee exists to ensure none of these issues reappear, Bradley said.
The purpose of the committee is to make sure that the "UConn 2000 Project," which consists of the construction of big buildings, classrooms and dorms, conducts a well-delivered and safe construction of buildings based on UConn policies, according to Jim Bradley, interim execute director of architectural and engineering services.
This committee was appointed by state legislature in August and they met as a group on Sept. 20 to discuss their plans and how they will proceed with the supervising of the construction project, according to Fieldman. The group has seven members who are familiar with construction background, construction management and mechanical engineers, Fieldman said.
According to Barry, the committee was formed because the Connecticut governor was concerned with the construction of some buildings in the past. Barry said the buildings were not built with the right fire and safety codes. According to Thomas Ritter, chairperson of the committee and a member of the board of Trustees, among that among fire and safety codes, there were charges to the "differed maintenance," a budget that is not supposed to be used, whenever the construction site people went over budget.
Therefore, the governor appointed three members from the Board of Trustees of UConn and four members from his choice to oversee the construction site and make sure everything runs smoothly, Ritter said.
"[We] feel confident that we corrected the mistakes of the past and everything will be done correctly," Ritter said.
Not much has been happening as of yet because the committee was just formed, Bradley said. The committee will meet once every quarter and will discuss the upcoming projects of the UConn 2000 Project, supervising everything that has to be done under this project.
One of the main projects the committee is working on is the supervision of the Arjona and Monteith building project, which is known as The Classroom Project and is worth 2 billion dollars, said Bradley. By 2010, Arjona and Monteith will be replaced by new buildings and classrooms which will be constructed on Dow Field between the Babbidge Library and Hawley Armory, where the old Co-op used to be, Bradley said.
Although the construction site had some issues on handling these previous projects, they did a good job constructing the new Student Union and Charter Oak Apartments, Bradley said. However, this committee exists to ensure none of these issues reappear, Bradley said.
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