Phase 2 of Shippensburg University’s new student housing project is well under way, with three residence halls demolished in the last several weeks and still another to be torn down this spring.
The second phase kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 1.
As part of the construction preparation, workers will be blasting at the Kieffer site beginning in early April.
“There will be a series of blasts — one every few days for about three weeks,” Herring said.
Foundation and utility work on other sections of the three sites has begun as well, he added.
Crews also have started preparing Seavers Apartments and Etter Health Center for demolition, removing interior items from the buildings.
Herring expects demolition of Seavers to start in mid-April.
“That has to be done before summer. We are planning to paint the water tower this summer, and the only way we can access that is through where Etter is now,” Herring said.
The health center moved into its new location in McLean Hall II over spring break.
At its March 15 meeting, the SU Council of Trustees approved the final part of Phase 2 — the demolition of Harley Hall, which will be done after the spring 2014 semester.
That area will be converted into open space, though Herring said exact details of its layout have not been finalized.
The three buildings that house new “living-learning” suites will be located on approximately the same sites as Kieffer, Lackhove and McCune, Herring said.
Construction of the new buildings and the open area is to be complete by the start of the fall 2014 semester.
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