Tuskegee University News Payton to Cut Ribbon for newly completed construction projects TUSKEGEE, Ala. (July 21, 2010) - Tuskegee University alumni, faculty, staff and students on Friday, July 30, will celebrate the completion of three major construction projects with ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Among the projects are the renovation of Logan Hall, a new women's softball field and a newly constructed Margaret Murray Washington Hall. The day will include remarks from University President, Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, introductions of architects and contractors involved with the respective projects, and recognition of present members of the University's Board of Trustees. The ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Logan Hall, adjacent to the Cleve Abbott football stadium. The building is a new student recreational center that includes a fitness center open to all enrolled students, a theater for plays and other productions, and dressing rooms. It will also serve as the headquarters for the athletics department, as well as house the Tuskegee University Athletic Hall of Fame. The architectural firm for this project is Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects, with Crystal Mitchell as project manager. The contractor is Rabren General Contractors, with Bruce Ward as project manager. The next stop is the new women's softball field. The architect for this project is Heery International. The contractor is Rabren General Contractors, with Bruce Ward as project manager. The new addition to the University's sports facilities inventory will significantly impact its ability to attract sterling women softball players. The final stop of the day will be Margaret Murray Washington Hall. Perhaps the most dramatic change, the existing building was razed and a new edifice was constructed on the site. Murray Washington Hall, built in 1897 and named for University founder Booker T. Washington's third wife. The building, located adjacent to the Lincoln Gates (main entrance to campus) and across the avenue from the Booker T. Washington Monument, was demolished due to structural disrepair. The new 25,000-square-foot facility will provide state-of-the-art accommodations for the Office of Enrollment Management, bookstore and dining services. The projects are part of the University's major investments in its vast physical plant to impact the educational and student programs at the University. The historic institution launched a multi-million dollar capital improvement program that began in 2008 in which all major renovations and new construction will be LEED certified. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a third-party certification program. It is a nationally accepted organization for design, operation and construction of high performance green buildings. This ensures the buildings are environmentally compatible, provide a healthy living, and work environment and are profitable. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/meeting-form.html for the October 24-26, 2010 HBCU Library Alliance 4th Membership Meeting and the "Conference on Advocacy" pre-conference in Montgomery, AL. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.