Projects under way

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

The University of Mary Washington hopes to finish some on-campus improvements this summer but isn't close to calling it quits on construction.

Next summer, UMW plans to start building a 53,000-square-foot gym on the Fredericksburg campus. The $25 million Anderson Center will seat 2,000 during sporting events and is expected to open by the spring semester of 2010.

UMW will use its existing gym in Goolrick Hall for intramural activities.

Also next summer, UMW plans to renovate the 97-year-old Monroe Hall at a cost of $12 million. The building's refurbishment, which includes new windows and heating and cooling systems, will take two years to complete.

In two years, UMW hopes to start work on a 70,000- to 80,000-square-foot technology center, which will cost about $37 million.

"Everything related to technology that you can think of will occur in that building," said Rick Hurley, UMW vice president for administration and finance.

On Tuesday, UMW acquired 22 acres for a 40,000-square-foot graduate school near the Dahlgren naval base in King George County. The $22.5 million facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011.

The school also plans to demolish Park & Shop on U.S. 1 and replace it with a mixed-use development, which will include dorms and shops. In December, UMW purchased the shopping center for $18.75 million and said it will take 10 years to redevelop.

The university expects to release more information about the layout in August.

On a smaller scale, UMW will put up a rowing dock this fall on property it's leasing for $1 a year from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The land is next to City Dock and will be used by the university's crew team.

Here are some other projects UMW plans to wrap up in the near future:

UMW is paying $2.1 million to put artificial grass, lights and a restroom at the site of this 220- by 350-foot intramural field along U.S. 1. The school expects to finish the project by the end of September. The field's 50-foot lights will enable students to play flag football, softball and soccer into the evening.

Lee Hall, considered the center of campus, was gutted a couple of years ago. The university hopes to finish the $19 million renovation in December. It includes a 20,000-square-foot addition with an elevator. The administrative building will be a one-stop shop for student services, including admissions and financial aid.

This fence is going up along William Street for safety reasons. UMW wants students to use the crosswalk at the corner of William Street and College Avenue rather than take shortcuts over the old brick wall--which is now below the new $50,000 fence--and dodge traffic along William Street to reach the university apartments. An undergraduate taking that route was hit by a car this past school year but wasn't seriously injured.

UMW is spending $300,000 to convert this house into 12 offices. The school expects to open the 5,000-square-foot building to professors by the fall semester, though it can't use the home's third floor because it's not close enough to any exits. UMW will begin work on an adjacent home, at 1004 College Ave., any day. Professors will move into that facility during winter break.

Date published: 7/6/2008

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