Projects provide needed maintenance
Noisy machinery and brief detours haven't been too uncommon on campus lately.
Right now, there are about 250 projects being planned, designed or carried out across the USC system, costing about $550 million, according to Vice President for Facilities Tom Quasney.
But construction has been especially noticeable in the central and northeast parts of campus, including at LeConte College, McKissick Museum, Petigru College and the Welsh Humanities Center.
Among them, the university will spend millions as it hopes to prevent future maintenance.
LeConte College
Right outside of USC's math department, workers are replacing steam pipes and valves more than 30 years old and "past their useful life," Quasney wrote in an email response.
That project, which has blocked off a section of walking path in the heart of campus, should be completed by the end of the month and constitutes regular maintenance. Between its design and construction, it'll cost USC about $100,000, he wrote.
Petigru College
Like the LeConte project, the ongoing work at Petigru College is designed to prevent future maintenance.
That project has relocated the bursar's and registrar's offices as it upgrades the building's utilities, including its heating and air conditioning, electrical units and technology connections.
It'll also include general repairs as the building is retooled to include more academic space and house the College of Arts and Sciences's administration.
By its completion in Fall 2013, it will have cost USC a total of $7 million.
"The board of trustees requested that the building ... more accurately reflect the historical aspect of the Horseshoe and fulfill Petigru's original use and purpose," Quasney wrote.
McKissick Museum
Nearby, the home of USC's visitor's center and museum had been dealing with heat and humidity its aging structure couldn't regulate anymore.
That was causing issues for the museum, where temperature and moisture can wreak havoc on sensitive materials.
In the same email, Quasney said that "without proper heating, cooling and humidity control, the exhibits are at risk of accelerated deterioration."
But now, USC is undertaking two projects to get those problems under control, which will cost a total of about $1.3 million.
From the outside, the most obvious change is the replacement and rehabilitation of the historic windows for $780,000.
Inside, other changes, "just as important to the building" as the windows outside, are happening behind the scenes, as workers replace its heating and air conditioning system for $495,000, according to Quasney.
Doing so will help in "providing the museum with far greater capability to maintain adequate climate control," Quasney wrote.
Welsh Humanities Center
Meanwhile, across Pickens Street, the Humanities office and classroom buildings are getting a bit of a face-lift.
The new look, Quasney wrote, will mimic the look of the Einstein Bros. Bagels on the office building's ground floor, and it'll make use of the space where the buildings hang over outdoor walkways to make room for restrooms and other facilities.
Doing so will cost about $550,000, Quasney said.