The office of Capital Projects announced in a press release the commencement of the University's expected three-year, $25 million campus Infrastructure Renewal Project this summer. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French released a bulletin today in which he explained initiatives to update dormitory fire safety, repair steam lines and electric and water systems, replace roofs and improve pedestrian walkways.

He also described a new initiative to improve the appearance of classrooms throughout the University.

According to Associate Vice President of University Services Mark Collins, the campus' outdated facilities require an overhaul to allow the campus to function properly - instead of having to be periodically fixed.

"The University, in its entirety, with the exception of the [Shapiro] Campus Center and the Rose [Art Museum], dates back to 1987, and the campus is over 50 years old and the infrastructure is very complex," Collins said. "Last year, there was a power outage and that is one of several times in my tenure that it has happened."

Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe said the administration focused on performing the bulk of construction this summer, as to decrease disruption to classes this fall.

"Facilities people are working hard to manage the construction so that life can go on," Jaffe said.

Associate Vice President for Budget and Planning James Hurley said savings from the capital budget allowed the University to fund the project.



Repairing classroom failures

Associate Vice President for Planning and Construction Dan Feldman said $2 million from the project will go toward updating classroom technology and furniture.

According to the bulletin, the University will make significant progress toward renovating six classrooms: Lown 302, Olin-Sang 116, 201, 212, Pearlman 203 and Shiffman 216.

"For students and faculty, the most visually apparent component of the project is classroom improvements," Feldman said. "The project's team developed standards for Brandeis classrooms in support of the University's teaching and learning mission."

Feldman said that feedback received from students and faculty will help Jaffe make decisions about what should be done in the second phase of classroom improvements.

"Our facilities are old and were in need of major repairs," Jaffe said.



Dormitory upgrades

Scheffres in North Quad will be closed this semester as part of an effort to install new sprinkler systems in North, Massell, Charles River Apartments and Foster Quads, according to Collins.

Collins said that Scheffres is being worked on now so that it can reopen in the spring for the mid-year class.

"Scheffres has 80 bed spaces, and I think that it provided a number that was similar to the mid-year class," Collins said. "There was a wish to keep [the mid-years] together."

As a result of less first-year housing, North Quad Director Rusmir Music said the amount of lofted triples will also increase.

"I believe the estimate is about a third of our incoming class is living in lofted triples," North Quad Director Rusmir Music said. "Some of it is due to Scheffres' renovation. Some of it due to class size."

Music added that to improve this dilemma, the University has opened dormitories in Shapiro basement, which last semester housed mid-year students.



Water, electric and fire safety

According to Collins, the University is updating dormitory fire safety technology, roofs and electrical and water systems - features he said interrupt campus life.

French's bulletin states that fire safety systems in 11 residence halls were upgraded this summer: East Quad, Shapiro A and B, Deroy, Rosenthal Quad, Ziv 130 and Charles River Apartments 154 and 178.

"We've done a great deal of repair work with roofs and electricity to prevent such problems as roof leaks," Collins said. It can still happen, but we're in better shape because it's the first time in many years that we've worked so much on it," Collins said.

The bulletin also refers to refining steam networks around campus. Some of these locations include Rabb, Spingold Theater, Rosenthal Quad and Usdan.

Collins also said work has gone toward improving electricity on campus.

He said he does not believe there will be another power outage like last year, though unforeseen events sometimes occur.

Senior Vice President Jean Eddy said she anticipates the project will greatly facilitate campus life and is a positive asset overall.

"I might be the infrastructure project's biggest fan," Eddy said. "It will improve life for everyone on campus and will continue to beautify the place that we all spend so much time in."

French said the magnitude of this project should be only a source of encouragement.

"The Infrastructure Renewal Project represents a landmark in the history of Brandeis," French said.

"This complex and multi- dimensional project has involved and continues to involve a great many people... We are grateful for the community's cooperation and understanding as we go through the disruption that is an essential part of getting where we need to be.