<p>{Atlanta, is there a listing somewhere of all the building/remods/parking additions/street changed that have taken place since Pres. Witt took over? A couple years ago, it was mentioned that over 40 buildings had been added. Since then, more have been added. And, of course other changes/remods/etc have occurred during The Witt Years. }</p>
<p>University of Alabama trustees approved resolutions to build the second phase of its newest residence hall, bring down one of its oldest and construct additions to the student center and main library.</p>
<p>During the Physical Properties Committee meeting, trustees approved a resolution that detailed Phase 2 of the North Bluff Residential Community as a seven-story, 864-bed dormitory to be built next door to Phase 1 of the complex.</p>
<p>Phase 2 is expected to open in fall 2014. </p>
<p>North Bluff Phase 1 is still under construction near the bluff overlooking the Black Warrior River between Rose Towers and Old Hackberry Lane. It is expected to open in fall 2012.</p>
<p>According to university documents, Phase 2 will be partially built on the current footprint of Rose Towers, a 13-story, 750-bed residence hall built in 1969.</p>
<p>[1614 beds are being added…how many will be lost with the destruction of Rose? And, either Phase I or II will include some kind of large mixed-use room on the top floor because it will have a great view of the Black Warrior River ]</p>
<p>Trustees approved the demolition of Rose Towers as part of the university’s construction plan for 2011-12. </p>
<p>The residence hall will be demolished in 2012 at a cost of $2.5 million, said Mike Lanier, UA’s project manager for construction.</p>
<p>“Rose Towers will be deactivated in May of next year, just as soon as the students there now move out,” he said.</p>
<p>Like Phase 1, Phase 2 of North Bluff will be composed of four- and two-bedroom apartments with common living rooms, laundry rooms and community kitchens distributed throughout the building.</p>
<p>The approved budget for Phase 2 is $62.5 million, $3.5 million less than phase one’s initial budget and slightly less than $6 million more than the final estimated construction cost of Phase 1.</p>
<p>The university also plans to build a recreation center and dining hall between the two North Bluff dormitories. The north campus recreation center is estimated to cost $17 million and is planned to have all the amenities of a modern gym except a pool. </p>
<p>I know that there are pools at the current Rec Center, the Aquatic Center, the Outdoor Pool Complex, and one between the Honors Riverside Res Halls, but I think the new rec center should also have a pool…maybe space prohibits?</p>
<p>Trustees also approved a $27.5 million project that will add nearly 60,000 square feet onto the south end of the Ferguson Center, while renovating 99,000 square feet. </p>
<p>The University Supply Store is benefiting greatly from the project and will receive nearly 50,000 square feet of the addition and renovated space.</p>
<p>Shortly thereafter, they approved a 50,000-square-foot addition to the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library that will double the library’s seating capacity to 2,278. The addition includes two new basement floors and will be built onto the 1967 addition to the building, which faces north on Capstone Drive.</p>
<p>The library’s columned main entrance faces the Quad, but the addition will give the Capstone Drive entrance a new, more attractive facade, transforming it into an “Academic Plaza.”</p>
<p>[I realize that the north side will get a more attractive entrance, but is the major addition going to be on the east side of Gorgas? The “Academic Plaza” sounds like it will go in between Manly Hall and Gorgas? ]</p>
<p>Trustees also approved of a budget revision of a digital media center to be built inside The Zone at Bryant Denny Stadium.</p>
<p>The original budget for the project, which will become the new home for Crimson Tide Productions, WVUA-TV and the Center for Public Television, was $6.5 million.</p>
<p>However, because of the addition of nearly 20,000 square feet of construction to the project, for a total of 50,000, the budget was increased to $8.1 million.</p>
<p>**
[Looks like Bama is wanting to improve its TV/Film abilities…which is very good for that dept. A school with top Div 1 sports is poised to produce grads with filming/producing/reporting experience…not just with sports, but also with Public Television.</p>
<p>this is such a good idea, since the South has become a popular filming locations because it’s cheaper to film here than it is in Calif and other locations. ]**</p>
<p>Here’s the link to the thread that Feeno mentions:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1034269-construction-developments-news.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/1034269-construction-developments-news.html</a></p>