The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
@TheChrony
Print Issues

OSH Renovation Might Begin in 2016 with Help from State Legislature

It’s no secret that OSH is in desperate need of help. There have been rumors spreading about OSH’s much needed renovation for years. Each year hopeful students and faculty imagine a day when sitting in OSH will not mean cold, out of date rooms and pipes that allow you to hear conversations in classrooms down the hall, and clanging outside the windows.

Ruth Watkins, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, recognizes the demand students express in renovating OSH.

“Recently, a Chrony article reported OSH to be our students’ choice for worst building on campus,” Watkins said. “Earlier this week, a steam pipe in OSH broke. Earlier this year, OSH flooded on several occasions. Repairs to OSH are constant with limited positive impact. The facility is costly to maintain and continues to be inadequate for the needs of our students and our faculty.”

On Monday, the rumors of OSH renovation moved one step closer to being true. SB009 passed in the Senate on Monday and moved to the House. SB009 is a bill that requests funding for capital improvements to buildings throughout the state. One of those buildings on the roster in Monday’s Senate meeting was OSH.

Senator Wayne A. Harper (R) introduced the bill to the Senate explaining the buildings that would be affected by the passing of the bill. The floor was then opend up to questions. No senators posed any questions to Senator Harper who moved for the passage of SB009. A roll call of Senators was read with each responding either “Yay”, or “Nay”. The result was a vote of 28-0 in favor of passing the bill. It will now move to the House.

Students at the U such as Paedahni Dy, a junior in political science, are buzzing about the news of an OSH overhall.

“It’s exciting news,” Dy said. “A lot of my classes have been in OSH over the last 3 years and it would be nice to see the building get some attention. I walk inside and feel like I’m back in the 60’s. It’s just old and run down.”

Watkins said that last year a team of experts, including faculty, architects, and facilities leaders, completed a feasibility study of the rebuilding project for OSH. That study helped to develop general ideas about the project. Detailed architectural and programming plans have not yet been developed; those steps will be next if the project is approved to proceed.

According to Watkins, project construction will take place from roughly 2016- 2019. Those dates are approximate at this time. The total project will be $60M. The funding plan involves private donors and discussions with dedicated U of U supporters are already underway. As part of the funding plan, a student fee of $45/semester, for a period of approximately 10 years, will be implemented. That fee will not begin until the new building is completed and students are able to use the facility. The fee will conclude when the cost of the building is paid, estimated to be 10 years. Extensive discussions with student leaders took place in Fall 2014 regarding the funding plan.

“U of U students and faculty expect quality in their teaching and learning spaces, and it is our responsibility to improve our facilities, particularly those that play such a central role for our students,” Watkins said. “Every department and college makes use of OSH for teaching. This is a critical building for the success of the U.”

 

 

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