Renovation of the John R. Park Building is now complete.
During nearly 11 months of construction, the aging building received exterior improvements and a much-needed seismic upgrade.
The historic building, located at the top of Presidents’ Circle, is 95 years old. It houses the offices of U President Michael Young and other administrators.
The original roof of the Park Building was not secured to the walls and could have caused significant damage to the building in the event of an earthquake. The roof has been nailed down and the building’s internal structure strengthened.
Other renovations to the Park Building include fire protection and sprinkler systems, an improved limestone facade and refurbished windows. The bronze statue of John R. Park was also fully restored. The original limestone exterior, constructed with stone from Sanpete County, has been patched with more durable limestone from Wisconsin. The newly installed copper sheet-metal flashings on the roof direct water away from the building and protect the new facade.
The final cost of the restoration was approximately $8.45 million, not much higher than the U’s prediction of $8.2 million, said Ken Nye, associate vice president of facilities management.
The Park Building requires further interior renovation, Nye said, but the U must divert funds to other more pressing construction projects. The building also requires a strengthened foundation, another costly project, to maintain safety standards.
Many of the older buildings are in need of structural strengthening, he said, but also cannot be repaired without the necessary funding–hard to come by after the Legislature slashed the U’s budget. The last update was for the Marriott Library, which recently completed a seismic upgrade that began in 2004.
This is the first exterior renovation the Park Building has received, but its interior has been remodeled multiple times since its construction in 1914. In the past, the Park Building has housed the library, law and anthropology departments and the U’s art collection.
“The Park Building is pretty much the icon of the university,” Nye said.
Mike Mangum