An artist’s rendering of
the proposed University Bookstore first level.
Solarium construction
slow downs have placed University Bookstore construction three months
behind schedule, Director of Design and Construction Dr. Clyde D.
Robbins said last Thursday.
“The contractor didn’t start when they
could have,” Robbins said.
Crossley Construction of Knoxville, Tenn., is
handling the beginning stages of both the bookstore and W.H. Plemmons
Student Union solarium projects.
Solarium and bookstore project manager W. Kelley
Ingram would not release the reason for the late start.
“That was an internal problem; that is Crossley’s
business,” Ingram said last Friday.
Ingram said the project has experienced other setbacks from the
contractors due to the replacement of the contractor’s superintendent
and project manager. He said the superintendent was replaced after
an emergency leave for heart surgery. A temporary superintendent
was hired in his place to make way for a permanent replacement later.
Ingram said setbacks caused by needed substitutions, “added
to the slowing down of the project.”
Robbins said the contractor is currently working on a recovery schedule
for both projects that will place the completion of the bookstore
in October 2003 and the solarium in March 2003.
Robbins said these new dates depend on weather expected from the
winter season ahead. He said given a tough winter, the bookstore
completion could be pushed to December 2003 and the solarium to
May 2003.
Ingram said the bookstore and solarium projects are working with
the same multi-prime contractors. Holcombe Brothers of Elkin will
handle mechanical work, Cajah Mountain of Lenior will take care
of plumbing needs and Besco Electric of Huntersville will preside
over electrical work. Since both projects are under the same contractors,
both are waiting for the projects to be “closed in” for
the mechanical, plumbing and electrical work to begin.
“If we can get the solarium closed in, we can work through
the winter,” Robbins said. He said this was a heavy possibility
if construction crews can work solidly without weather interruptions.
“We’re just trying to work through construction and see
it to fruition,” University Bookstore Director Michael G. Coston
said last Friday.
Coston said the concept for the new bookstore will “border
Barnes & Noble-type bookstores.”
“[The new bookstore] is going to have a huge impact on campus
because there will be a lot more offered,” Coston said.
He said the bookstore will go from five levels to a more shopper-friendly
two levels.
“It will be easier for people to get in and out of the building
and shop,” Coston said.
He said one central checkout will add to the planned convenience
of the new bookstore allowing customers to check out items in one
location instead of the existing multiple checkouts.
Coston said the plans for the new bookstore hold added amenities
including a cyber cafe, an additional food choice, a business center,
a banking center, a convenience store and a coffee provider.
He said he did not know who the coffee provider or food choice would
be but that Starbucks Coffee and Burger King were popular student
suggestions.
“It may very well be Burger King,” Coston said.
He said several coffee providers are being considered, including
Starbucks and Crossroads Coffee, the existing provider in Plemmons
Student Union.
“It’s hard to say what it will be until it’s finalized,”
Coston said. He said that more final decisions will be made in the
next six to eight months.
Coston said providing educational materials is still the primary
focus of the bookstore, and book offerings along with news periodicals
and magazine offerings will be expanded as well.
