Center to answer questions on Rice construction

Center to answer questions on Rice construction
 
BY FRANZ BROTZEN
Rice News Staff
 
People who want to know more about the many construction projects around campus now have a place to go. The Construction Information Center (CIC) has opened in one of the temporary buildings on the southeast corner of Alumni Drive and College Way.

JEFF FITLOW

Barbara White Bryson, associate vice president for FE&P, wants faculty, staff and students to come to the Construction Information Center with questions.

Facilities Engineering and Planning (FE&P) and the senior administration have made numerous presentations to the Rice community as well as the university’s neighbors to let them know about the construction. Still, many people have questions — about trees, traffic and other related matters. The CIC is designed to answer such questions.
 
“This is an opportunity to share these exciting plans with our community and to communicate the value they will bring to Rice,” said Barbara White Bryson, associate vice president for FE&P.
 
The CIC displays scale models and artists’ renderings of many of the construction projects. The projects are designed by world-renowned architects, including Sir Michael Hopkins (McMurtry College and college 11), Thomas Phifer (Pavilion), Antoine Predock (South Plant), Craig Hartman (Collaborative Research Center) and Lake/Flato (Recreation Center).

“How many places can you go to see projects by so many extraordinary architects?” asked White Bryson.
 
The facility is temporarily staffed by public relations specialist Mark Passwaters, but will have a permanent communications manager soon.
 
“I want people to come in and ask what Rice is doing to be sustainable and to protect our green spaces,” Passwaters said. “We look forward to communicating just how much our project teams care about the campus.”
 
In addition to the two new residential colleges, the Pavilion, the South Power Plant, the Collaborative Research Center and the Recreation Center, work is under way on campus at Autry Court, Reckling Park at Cameron Field, and the north campus parking area. Off campus, work will begin soon on the child-care center and the Shakespeare graduate student apartments.

The CIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mail for the CIC should be sent to MS-309. Stay current about construction on campus by visiting the Construction News portal.