The Board of Visitors approved a proposal to replace New Cabell Hall and construct a new Arts and Sciences building yesterday.
The proposal provides for the demolition of New Cabell Hall, the construction of a new building to take its place and the construction of an additional building to house Arts and Science classrooms. The plan also calls for the renovation of Cocke Hall and Rouss hall, and the construction of a 400-500-car parking garage.
The new 120,000 square foot Arts and Sciences building would be built on Jefferson Park Avenue on top of an existing University parking lot. A walkway will connect it to the reconstructed New Cabell Hall directly across the street.
Although it initially considered renovating New Cabell Hall, the Board's Special Committee on Arts and Sciences Facilities ultimately decided to rebuild based on cost considerations.
"Experience usually proves that ... you end up paying as much for renovation as reconstruction," said Colette Sheehy, vice president for management and budget. "Experience at the University proves this out."
The committee also took aesthetic considerations into account when deciding to rebuild.
"People are not excited about how New Cabell looks from Jefferson Park Avenue," Sheehy said.
Although a separate architectural firm will be hired to renovate Cocke and Rouss, a single firm will be used for the new buildings. The plans will keep "in mind the location of these buildings adjacent to the historic structures at the south end of the Lawn," according to the Board's resolution.
"We wanted to hire one architect with one vision," said Thomas Farrell, chairman of the special committee on Arts and Sciences facilities. But "the best architects for renovation projects are not necessarily the same as those for new construction."
The total cost of the project is $126.7 million, with $4.5 million coming from Parking and Transportation. The remaining $122.2 million will be split between the College Foundation and the University's general funds.
The College Foundation allows alumni and private sources to contribute funds to the College.
However, with the current economic slowdown and the anticipated shortfalls in state revenues this year, funding the new project could prove to be a challenge, University President John T. Casteen III said.
The overall timeline for the project is five years and two months, with the completion of the new Arts and Sciences building by 2005. The replacement of New Cabell would not begin until after the new building is finished, and would not be complete until 2007. The Cocke and Rouss Hall renovations are expected be completed by the middle of 2005, and the parking structure finished by 2004.
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