Demolition looms for Bldg. 5

CSM will be tearing down Building 5 and constructing two new buildings where it stood during the next several years during to the CIP 2 Design-Build project.The two new buildings, Bldg. 5N and Bldg. 10N will house a variety of services and programs at CSM.

Bldg. 5N will be a three-story building that will house a new Wellness Center and an aquatic center, as well as the Cosmetology, Dental and Nursing programs. It will also be home to offices, classrooms and a coffee bar.

The building is part of a $142.5 million construction contract and is being built by McCarthy Builders, who was awarded the project by the Design-Build project in March.

The Wellness Center will include yoga, spinning, pilates, and a variety of other programs. The building is being designed to create a gateway into the campus, which leads on a diagonal axis and will draw students to the heart of the campus.

The Transfer, Counseling and Career centers, will be moved from their current
locations to Bldg. 1.

The demolition of Bldg. 5 is scheduled to take place in June 2008. Preparations have been made to make sure that the building is vacated by May 15.

"After May 15, we will begin asbestos abatement in preparation for the demolition of the old structure," said Rick Bennett, Executive Director of the Construction Planning Department.

"Ultimately, Bldg. 5 will be a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified silver building," said Bennett. LEED is a third-party certification program and is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, he said.

"McCarthy Builders will grind most of the concrete from Bldg. 5N in an effort to save money and recycle materials in a green fashion," said Bennett. "These materials will be used as base for parking lots and roadways."

The cafeteria will not be relocated because the kiosk in the center of the quad will continue to provide food service for the college during construction.

Darrin Cassidy, owner of Pacific Café, is optimistic about the relocation of where students will be getting their food.

"Unfortunately we're left with the kiosk, but you have to think about the final result," said Cassidy.

"We're hoping to purchase a portable kitchen that will be brand new and approximately 30 feet," said Cassidy. "The quality of the food that is provided at the kiosk will not lack."

Cassidy is working with the school to figure out possibilities as to how the food will be served. "We have to bite the bullet for a couple years but you can't get to the future unless you get to the beginning," said Cassidy.

"We are currently exploring the possibility of including additional seating areas in the quad area," said Jennifer Hughes, vice president of student services.

"The building has been around since the school was built," said Fauzi Hamadeh, accounting technician for student services. "It's been working for everything that we need it to."

"I have mixed feelings about having to be relocated," said Hamadeh. "It would be nice to be in the heart of the campus. But moving will be a real challenge." Hamadeh is required to have everything packed up before the May 15 date when the building actually closes.

The second new building is Bldg. 10N, which will become a signature building for the campus. Bldg. 10N will be a four-story building that will house the cafeteria, bookstore, the majority of Student Services, the Broadcast and Media program as well as some administrative and faculty offices.

"The vision for the building is to create a central, integrated location in the heart of the campus for students to obtain student services and academic support services," said Hughes.

The new building will be a "home" for students where it will be a location that the students can return to, she said.

"The floor plans will be designed to take advantage of the local and distant views and will include outdoor decking areas for students and staff to gather," explained Hughes.

"Space will be designed to be physically responsive to the College's changing needs," said Hughes. "We want to create unique synergies of flexibility, collaboration and socialization." Bldg. 10N is expected to open summer 2011.