UMass sees progress on repairs

The Republican - Friday, March 16, 2007
By Patricia Norriss, staff writer
 
AMHERST - The University of Massachusetts at Amherst is making progress in its plan to fix antiquated buildings and build facilities, but costs are likely to grow as new infrastructure goes online, according to an administrative report given at the Faculty Senate meeting.

Joyce Hatch, vice chancellor for administration and finance, and Robert Francis, associate vice chancellor for facilities on campus, addressed the 660th Faculty Senate meeting at Herter Hall yesterday.

"Over 52 percent of our space is over 40 years old," said Hatch. This fall, $50 million was spent to create "critical academic space." 

In the fall, the university got $30 million from the state Legislature for safety-related infrastructure improvements.

Money spent this year is part of $1.2 billion, five-year capital plan. But not all projects in the plan are funded.

The UMass-Amherst capital plan is part of a $2.14 billion system-wide plan authorized by the trustees in August.

At UMass-Amherst, administrators are attempting to preserve some buildings, make improvements to others and build new ones.

Top priority projects under way include the central heating plant, new undergraduate housing, an integrated science building, a studio arts building and the renovation of Skinner Hall, which houses the School of Nursing.

A recreation center and a new police facility are also forthcoming, Hatch said.

The police department, which is located in Dickinson Hall, needs a new building because separating police business from ordinary goings on at Dickinson has become difficult. Police cruisers get stuck at Dickinson when there is a major event at the Mullins Center, Hatch said. The police station is to be finished in 2009.

Joseph I. Goldstein, distinguished professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, said while he recognizes the need for building improvements, he is worried that the university has overextended itself by borrowing. He fears that when it is time to pay the bills, the concentration on hiring new faculty for the Amherst 250 plan will be compromised.

But Goldstein acknowledged that Chancellor John V. Lombardi has added almost 100 new faculty positions under the plan to increase faculty.

Lombardi has said balancing the need for faculty while improving academic space is crucial to the success of the institution.