Shippensburg University’s facilities planning and management department continues numerous repairs and renovations around campus, including the installation of disability signage.

In addition to small repairs, such as repainting several classrooms, the department has been working to make the SU campus more accessible for disabled students and faculty in accordance with the standards created by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These efforts include several prominent changes to SU classrooms, such as adding wheelchair ramps and buying lifts for stages.

Lance Bryson, associate vice president of facilities and management, has been working on the installation of internal and external ADA signage, as well as a map that reveals disability access points around campus.

“SU has been engaging in a variety of projects to make the campus and learning community more accessible,” said Allison Carey, director of disability studies. “I think these efforts are so valuable and should be applauded.”

Meanwhile, Bryson and his department are also finishing up plans to make Stewart Hall the new home for the offices of university relations and student affairs. The project is slated to begin in January 2018, with plans for the project scheduled for a July completion. The renovation will take more than one year to complete and will cost the university nearly $4 million. It is currently being funded by SU and the SU Foundation.

The major focal point of this semester’s campus construction continues to be its replacement of the electrical and the telecommunication infrastructure on campus, according to Bryson.

The replacement and renovation process is estimated to cost approximately $9.9 million, which will be funded by SU and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The project, which involves shallow trenching throughout the campus grounds, will result in the university being temporarily powered by generators from time to time as work on the project progresses.

Bryson said the department has already briefed many on-campus personnel and will continue to notify campus constituents as details are finished and the project’s commencement date approaches. At this time, it is anticipated that the project will begin in November 2017 and continue through February 2019.

While many projects will just be taking off this semester, the facilities department will continue its work from last semester on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.

The department has been working on implementing previously approved plans to extend the trail past the Cora I. Grove Spiritual Center to Fogelsonger Road, according to Bryson. The university also plans to construct a pedestrian bridge over the trail, which will be 10 feet in width and be completed by April 2018.

Additional campus projects include the widening and extension of Lancaster Drive and painting the underside of Seth Grove Stadium. Campus construction plans will continue to be put into motion as they are approved by the university.

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