Maintenance projects planned for holiday break

Replacing the crushed-granite sidewalk on the north side of the road leading into campus from Entrance 1 with pea-gravel concrete is just one of the maintenance projects that Facilities Engineering and Planning will be completing during the holiday break.

The crushed-granite walkway on the north side of the road leading into campus from Entrance 1 will be replaced with pea gravel during the holiday break.

Bart Salmon, assistant vice president for facilities, gave an overview of the maintenance projects at the Dec. 12 Administrators’ Forum.

Also on the “to do” list while students are away for the holidays:

• Replace the remaining obsolete electrical gear in the west basement of the Anderson Biological Laboratories.
• Refinish the floors of the Grand Hall and Farnsworth Pavilion in Rice Memorial Center.
• Refinish the floors of the basketball, squash and racquetball courts in the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center.
• Replace the carpet in the second- and third-floor corridors of Baker Hall.
• Replace a section of the roadway along Alumni Drive; this will affect the curbs, the drainage system and the membrane.
• Clean and seal the east façade and the north and south ends of Lovett Hall.
• Install iron gates for security and access ramps in the Sewall Hall courtyard and sculpture bay.
• Replace the membrane and insulation on roof No. 2 at Fondren Library.
• The sidewalks around the Cambridge Office Building and Entrance 3 Garage did not meet Rice standards for quality and are being replaced at no cost to the university. The work began Dec. 15 and will be completed by Jan. 6. Materials and dumpsters will be housed temporarily on surface parking areas on the east side of the garage.

Ana Ramirez, director for project management, gave an overview of the capital projects that are underway.

• The basement, first, second and third floors of the Space Science and Technology Building are being renovated, and a clean room will be built in the basement. Substantial completion is expected by July.
• The space on the third floor of Sewall Hall previously occupied by the Rice Gallery is being renovated to house the Welcome Center. Substantial completion is expected in January.
• Ground has been broken and construction is underway for the Rice University Music and Performing Arts Center. Substantial completion is scheduled for July 2020.
• The Reckling Batting Barn is being expanded and the Roost is being built south of the first base line at Reckling Park. Substantial completion is expected in February.