Fort Valley State University News December 1, 2011 Campus enhancements accommodate FVSU's growth Something is different about the small cluster of faculty apartments located south of the Pettigrew Center. The exterior has undergone a facelift. New beige colored siding, windows, mailboxes and doors replaced the old and has improved the overall look of the neighborhood where the modern Academic Classroom and Lab and the W.W.E. Blanchet buildings stand on the east and west of the 10-unit structure. The residences of FVSU's Royal Court and Student Government Association president were overhauled. There are new signs that identify the location of campus buildings, making it easier for students to find classrooms. "What we've done is identified areas in need of improvement to prepare the campus for future growth," said Dwayne Crew, associate vice president for business and finance and director of plant operations. Diners walking into the cafeteria and Georgia Room see another campus enhancement. Underfoot is a new sidewalk with the letters "FVSU" engraved in blue. But, don't let the material that resembles brick fool you. It is actually a mixture of sand and paint sealed in a clear coat that cost the university a fraction of the amount that bricks would have cost. Throughout the campus are construction zones cordoned off by caution tape where workers have dug a 20-foot-by-20-foot hole. They're upgrading underground water lines. "We're changing from four-inch water lines to six- and eight-inch water lines to accommodate campus growth," said Crew. In the coming months, there will be sewer system upgrades; and FVSU's electrical system will be connected to the system of an outside utility company, according to Crew. All of the renovations are part of a two-year effort launched by the Department of Plant Operations in 2009. The price tag for the work exceeds $300,000, and is paid for through Georgia Board of Regents' maintenance, renovation and repair funds. The water line upgrade is a $275,000 project. The signs and dining hall's paint job cost less than $8,000. The work on the apartments would have cost $125,000 last year; but this year, the job was completed for $35,000. A decrease in construction costs is one of the byproducts of the economy's slow recovery. "Many construction workers are unemployed. The economy has brought construction costs way down, which is allowing us to complete projects at a much better price," Crew said. FVSU was successful in securing a $300,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant, which will allow for the construction of a paved, lit walking trail on campus. In addition to upgrades within the campus gates, a major $1.5 million beautification project on State University Drive is scheduled to begin in December. The city of Fort Valley will complete the streetscape work with the help of DOT funding. For the next 10 months, the sidewalks will be replaced; the center lane will evolve to include a medium with lighting and shrubbery. 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 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 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.