Anna Maria, WPI among colleges experiencing construction boom
Sunday, July 24, 2011
By Noman Khanani
A $53.2 million recreation center takes shape at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The building is expected to be completed next summer. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR)
Other members of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium have been taking advantage of opportunities generated by a soft market, and nearly every school has a project in the construction or planning phase.
WPI began construction of its $53.2 million recreation center in May 2010 with hopes to have it done by next summer. MassDevelopment issued $56 million in tax-exempt bonds on behalf of the college. Cardinal Construction Inc. is under contract for the design and construction of the building, which will include a 29,000-square-foot gymnasium, a 25-meter competition swimming pool and specialized spaces.
“Generally, it's a better time to build for colleges because there's more competition,” said Fred DiMauro, WPI's assistant vice president of facilities. When construction firms are desperate for work, they are more willing to lower their margin of profit, said Mr. DiMauro.
Assumption College has the 8,800-square-foot Campus Ministry Center under construction. Lauring Construction is building the $3.9 million center, which is expected to be done by December. The old ministry center burned down 18 years ago.
Among other projects, Quinsigamond Community College recently renovated its old library, which was being used for storage space, into office space.
The College of the Holy Cross will have its 11th dormitory on campus completed by next month. The 156-bed dormitory will cost the school $20 million and house mostly seniors. The school also has been landscaping outside the Hogan Campus Center this summer as it seeks to beautify the busy crossroads of its campus.
Last month, construction workers topped off the highest level of the $400 million Albert Sherman Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, which is scheduled to open in late 2012. The 500,000-square-foot facility will double the medical school's research space.
And in Leicester, Becker College broke ground June 10 on a new $9 million campus center being built with money from a fundraising campaign.
Lastly, Worcester State University is in the process of planning for a $45 million athletic wellness center and a dormitory for 300 students. No timelines have been set for either project.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20110724/NEWS/107249967
Run-down DPW acreage could be opened for redevelopment
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
nkotsopoulos@telegram.com
WORCESTER — The Department of Public Works is looking to relocate much of its Shrewsbury Street operations because of the deficient condition of its aging buildings and facilities there.
That, in turn, could open up valuable acreage in the heart of the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood to redevelopment — something that residents and business owners in that part of the city have been aggressively pursuing for more than 25 years.
http://www.telegram.com/article/2011...25/1003/NEWS03