Major Summer Construction Nears Completion

Bunce courtyard coming soon!

For months now, a staccato rapid-fire rumble of jackhammers has rocked Rowan's normally tranquil campus as construction crews tore down Bosshart Hall and ripped up sidewalks and streetscapes.

But most of the heavy lifting will soon be over.

A dramatic summertime agenda to upgrade infrastructure under Route 322 and across campus is nearing completion, leaving Rowan better prepared to accommodate its burgeoning 21st Century community.

Major projects underway or nearing completion in this $23 million makeover include:

Bosshart green space project

• Bosshart site restoration - the area that contained Rowan's former science building along Route 322 is being transformed into open space with ramps, walkways and grassy areas.

• Campbell Library - new steam and sewer lines were installed beneath new paver-stone sidewalks. The new, wider sidewalks will flow into paved walking paths along Route 322 to ease pedestrian traffic.

• A new 15-foot wide sidewalk was constructed this summer between Mimosa Hall and Abbott's Pond near the Mansion Park apartments.

• Bunce Hall - "Phase II" construction this fall will complete work begun in the spring to Rowan's iconic original classroom building. Whereas Phase I involved the replacement of old cement steps and a walkway near the baseball field with a paved ramp and bike path, Phase II will involve the construction of a courtyard-style plaza area with red paving stones and improved handicapped access to the building.

• Mimosa, Evergreen and Mullica halls - new steam lines have been or are being installed for heating, cooling and hot water.

Walking past the work site

"Most of the projects are interrelated," said Joseph Orlins, Rowan's assistant vice president/facilities management. "To a large extent these are infrastructure upgrades where we're replacing ancient steam lines that were broken or leaking."

The lines, Orlins explained, carry steam produced in Rowan's cogeneration power plant to heat and cool large swaths of the university.

The cogen plant also produces chilled water. New chilled water lines are being run to Westby and Science halls for future air conditioning projects.

"In addition, the borough of Glassboro this summer replaced sewer lines along Route 322," Orlins said.

Meditation Walk

Once the new lines were installed the state Department of Transportation repaved the section of 322 that runs through campus, improved the curbing and installed four well-marked crosswalks. The D.O.T. also reconfigured the entrance and exit to Lot A off Route 322 to eliminate left-hand turns into or out of the lot.

Orlins said left-hand turning drivers had, for years, posed a threat to other motorists and pedestrians.

"Taken together, the work done this summer improves the usability and appearance of campus as well as its safety," Orlins said.

Nick Marcello, a sophomore marketing/management student from Rockaway, said he's almost gotten used to the hammering, sawing and rumble of heavy equipment across campus.

"It's a little hard to hear the teacher sometimes with all the noise but I hope it's worth it," he said. "I'm sure it will be."