July 8 | Campus
MEDIA CONTACT: Taryn Tawoda at t-tawoda@u.northwestern.edu
Technological Institute Plaza Under Construction
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The project design includes installation of new brick and stone paving, stone seat walls, accessible ramps, decorative lighting and new planting beds and trees. The landscape design includes 14 new Accolade Elms (a disease-resistant hybrid) that will frame the courtyard with their classic urn shape. In addition, the plantings will include serviceberrys, yews, hydrangea, spirea and lilacs.
The first phase consisted of construction of new bicycle parking areas along Sheridan Road, on both sides of the plaza entrance. All old bike racks were removed.
The second phase, construction of the plaza, began June 23. This work on the plaza’s northern two-thirds requires closure of the northern two sets of main entrance doors and the entrances to the A wing and F wing of the building. During this time, a temporary path will be provided from the main entry of the Technological Institute to the Sheridan Road sidewalk. The northern two sets of main entrance doors are expected to reopen in mid-September, when this phase is scheduled to be completed. The A wing entrance is expected to be opened by October.
The third phase of construction, which will begin in September, will close the south set of main entrance doors. The two northern sets of main entrance doors will remain open at all times during this phase, which is scheduled to be completed in December. The F wing entrance is expected to be opened at that time.
In summer 2007, structural repairs were made to reinforce the concrete of the Technological Institute’s west plaza walkways, requiring temporary partial closings of entries. The summer 2008 renovations will have an impact similar to that of last summer’s construction.
(Taryn Tawoda is a sophomore in the Medill School of Journalism)