UCONN 2000
Legislative
Update No. 6
April 1998
REBUILDING,
RENEWING AND ENHANCING
THE
UNIVERSITY OF
CONNECTICUT
This SIXTH in a series of reports to Governor John G. Rowland
and the Connecticut General Assembly
Table of Contents
I. UCONN 2000: THE UPDATE
II. UCONN 2000: THE MASTER PLAN
III. ACTIVITIES COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY:
IV. CURRENT PROJECT STATUS (as of April, 1998)
V. CURRENT PROJECTS FUND SOURCES: UCONN 2000 (as
of October, 1997)
CHARTS
This is the sixth in a series of semi-annual reports to the Governor and the
General Assembly pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10a-109 through 10a-109m
of the Connecticut General Statutes, originally An Act to Enhance the Infrastructure
of the University of Connecticut, and now known as UCONN 2000.
On November 14, 1997 the University Board of Trustees adopted the Master Plan,
the long-range comprehensive plan for the renewal and enhancement of UCONN's physical
infrastructure. The University of Connecticut's Master Plan was commissioned to
respond to two significant events: the adoption of the Strategic Plan by the Board
of Trustees in 1995 and the passage in the same year of Public Act 95-230, the
law popularly referred to as UCONN 2000, by the Connecticut General Assembly. UCONN
2000 is an opportunity the likes of which the University has never before seen,
and it was deemed essential that its implementation embody the Board of Trustees'
new vision for the University's renaissance.
The Process
The development of the Master Plan took 18 months and involved hundreds of people.
The planning process was overseen by the University administration and
the Master Plan Advisory Committee, a group broadly representative of the University
community. As a prelude to plan development, the Committee formulated the following
overarching guiding themes:
Accessibility
- Create a user-friendly campus.
- Strengthen ease of navigation for those with disabilities.
- Provide adequate and convenient parking and shuttle services.
- Improve the "readability" of the campus for the visitor
as well as the resident.
Flexibility
- Promote multipurpose design.
- Incorporate and understand the importance of technology infrastructure.
- Accept only qualified construction that will last over time.
- Design with long-term maintenance in mind.
- Create buildings that further our mission of teaching, research and
outreach.
Aesthetics
- Facilitate an open and welcoming environment.
- Create a physical entity that reflects the quality of our academic
programs.
- Maintain consistent architectural themes that blend and complement
existing buildings.
- Visually capitalize on our New England heritage and beautiful surroundings.
- Maintain our historical integrity while promoting institutional capacity
to address the future.
Community
- Integrate social, residential and academic life.
- Create an environment that nurtures interaction and communication.
- Provide space and amenities (both inside and outside buildings) that
invite the exchange of ideas such as benches, pathways and common areas.
- Allow sufficient room for student activities.
- Emphasize a sense of community that will engender respect for our
physical environment.
Commitment
- Commit to and follow through on the Master Plan once adopted.
- Accept the need to set priorities and make tough decisions.
- Coordinate with other Strategic Plan activities (especially academic
priorities).
- Provide ongoing care of the physical plant.
- Establish a process for ongoing planning, review and communication/coordination
with the community in which the campus is located.
Master Plan Framework
The Master Plan Advisory Committee initially focused its deliberations on the
establishment of planning principles and goals. From that effort grew the
primary elements of the plan and the vision of a reborn campus.
The Planning Principles are:
- Respect what is already in place.
- All campus elements must inter-relate.
- A campus is about people, not just buildings.
The Planning Goals encompass:
- Establishing a clear organizational concept.
- Developing an articulated hierarchy of space and plans.
- Creating a humane campus in space, function and materials.
- Providing a framework for growth which builds from existing elements
and allows for future growth in support of the plan's primary elements.
The Master Plan's primary elements include:
- Pedestrian-only campus core.
- Distinct "neighborhoods" throughout
campus.
- Set of major walkways, highlighted by the
Academic Way.
- New open space for social and intellectual
interaction.
- A major plaza in campus academic core.
The campus will feature:
- Buildings clustered around organized open space.
- A strong center of activity in the heart of campus.
- Open spaces linking the pedestrian corridor system.
- Preserved East Lawn, Mirror Lake and Swan Lake environs.
- Academic uses in the central campus area.
- Intersecting walkways and the existing campus grid.
- Open space and landscape improvements to visually unite the campus
on both sides of Route 195.
- A new system of roadways, eliminating auto-pedestrian clashes.
UCONN 2000: ACTIVITIES COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY
- The Agricultural Biotechnology Center project is out to bid. Since
expected levels of matching federal funds have not materialized, the
project scope has been reduced to focus on the research lab portion of
the building. If the additional federal funds ($6 million) become available,
the facility will be expanded to reflect the project as originally planned.
Bids are due May 5, 1998 with project completion scheduled July 1999.
- Construction documents are under review for the Litchfield Agricultural
Center project. This $1,350,000 facility will contain approximately 10,000
square feet of space for the Cooperative Extension Service in Litchfield
County. The Litchfield Agricultural Center is dedicating a $350,000 grant
towards the project cost. It is estimated the construction will be completed
July 1999.
- Design development drawings are being prepared for a new School of
Business Administration building. This 100,000 square foot building will
be built on Hillside Road across from the Gampel Pavilion. This project's
funding will be augmented by $4 million to be raised from private donations.
The project will be bid in Fall, 1998.
- Program planning for the Student Union Addition project has begun.
This project, which will include renovations and a major addition to
the current facility, has a primary goal of expanding the range of activities
available to students in the campus core.
- Planning activities for the renovations of the Waring Chemistry building
have been completed. Present plans are for the building to house the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offices, the English Department
and the Geography Department. The project includes the creation of additional
classrooms. This project will be bid in Summer, 1999.
- Design work has begun on the renovation of the Northwest Quad Dormitories,
including a new Central Dining Facility for the complex which will eliminate
the small kitchens that currently exist in each of the seven buildings.
This change will reduce operating costs for dining services while providing
additional support space in each building. The dorm rooms will be renovated
similar to the rooms at the South Campus Dormitories. The project will
be bid in Summer, 1999.
- Architectural design is underway for an addition to Storrs Hall for
the School of Nursing. Funds for the addition will be raised through
private donations while funds for renovation will come through UCONN
2000. The project schedule will be dependent on these fundraising activities.
- A key component of the University of Connecticut's Master Plan is
to create a pedestrian core for the campus. The first step in this direction
is the closing of Fairfield Road to vehicular traffic and its reopening
as a pedestrian mall. Design activity has begun, with construction to
start in Summer 1998. As part of this project, Mansfield Road will be
extended to Glenbrook Road to create an inner-campus shuttle bus loop.
The road extension project will be completed this summer.
- The University has selected four firms to provide on-call analysis
support as needed for claims made by contractors during the construction
process, as well as recommendations to assist the University in the avoidance
of claims.
- The University has selected, through a competitive process, Architectural
and Engineering firms to provide services on an on-call basis. Firms
were selected in the following categories:
- Environmental Engineering
- The Facilities Management Home Page on the World Wide Web continues
to be very successful in providing information to interested parties.
The site has been visited over 5,900 times since its introduction in
October 1996. It provides an e-mail alert list for those firms that have
Internet access in order to inform them of project opportunities at the
University as part of UCONN's efforts to provide wider distribution of
professional service solicitations.
- The University of Connecticut rolled out its Master Plan on March
3, 1998. In addition to its overarching thematic structure, the plan
provides standards to ensure common design perspective, architectural
elements and material use in our building program.
- Since the last report, three bond authorizations for projects authorized
prior to UCONN 2000 have received favorable action by the State Bond
Commission. These projects are:
- Avery Point Marine Science Center
- Music and Drama/Music Additions and Renovations
Three additional projects authorized prior to the adoption of the UCONN 2000
legislation await action by the State Bond Commission. These projects are:
- Mansfield Training School Improvements
- With the building and renovation program, the University of Connecticut
has begun the process of standardizing building systems and system components.
This standardization process will reduce the number of replacement parts
the University needs to inventory and improve the level of maintenance
within available resources.
- The success of the Owners Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) continues,
enabling the University to add scope of work within budget for each project.
The University is looking into carrying the OCIP into Phase II UCONN
2000 projects.
- The University of Connecticut has announced a partnership with Pfizer,
Inc., for the building of a facility on the Storrs campus that will house
an Animal Vaccine Research Center. Pfizer, Inc., will fund the building
project on land leased from the University for one dollar a year. The
University will occupy 20% of the space in the building. This collaboration
will serve as a model for the University as it explores other activities
with Connecticut industry.
- Classes began in January 1998 at the new downtown Stamford facility.
This project, which involved the renovation of the 230,000 square foot
former Bloomingdale's building, was open for classes 16 months after
construction started. The building will be dedicated in April with all
construction activity finished in August. The project moved forward despite
the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Guy F. Atkinson Company, the parent
firm of this project's general contractor, Walsh Construction Company
of Trumbull, Connecticut. In January 1998 the assets of Atkinson were
purchased by Clark Construction of Bethesda, Maryland. The bonding company
for this project (and for the Chemistry project) has contracted with
Clark to manage the completion of both projects.
- After action by the State Bond Commission on $1,318,000 of the funding
for the Avery Point Marine Science project, a construction contract was
awarded to C. R. Klewin of Norwich, Connecticut. This project includes
a new 137,000 square foot research building, an 30,000 square foot project
Oceanology building, and a new central chilled water plant. The project
will be completed in May 2000. Along with the renovations to the Branford
House and the replacement of the utility systems which will both be completed
in the fall, the Avery Point project will vastly improve research facilities
for our Marine Science program.
- The Chemistry Building project is on track for completion in August
1998. The six floor building is a 200,000 square foot steel structure
with block/brick face and metal roof construction. It houses teaching,
research and administrative facilities, with each occupying a separate
wing. Construction of the building began December 2, 1996.
- The South Campus Residential and Dining Hall will see the three dormitory
facilities ready for occupancy in August 1998. The Dining Facility will
be completed in October 1998. The dormitories will house 674 students
in single rooms with a suite set-up. Construction on this project began
in June 1997.
- On January 26, 1998 a construction contract was awarded to HRH/Atlas
of Stamford, Connecticut for the Biological Sciences project. The building
is a seven-story 145,000 square foot facility designed for biology and
physics research. The exterior of the building will be brick veneer;
a glass greenhouse will occupy the roof. The project is scheduled for
completion in August 1999.
- On December 16, 1997, Precision Power Incorporated of Hamden, Connecticut,
was awarded a construction contract for the Central Heating Plant project.
This plant will provide for centralized chilled water, fire pumps, and
emergency power for all buildings in the central campus and technology
quad areas. The project will also provide for the connection of chilled
water, fire protection, emergency power, primary power, telecommunications,
steam and domestic water within a utility tunnel in the technology quad.
The project is scheduled for completion February 1999 and serves as an
excellent example of the University's commitment to energy efficiency
and environmental responsibility for the entire UCONN 2000 effort.
- On January 22, 1998 the North Parking Garage was opened to provide
parking for 1,035 cars. The only remaining work to be completed is the
exterior landscaping. Construction activity on this design/build project
began in July 1997. The contractor for the project was O & G Industries
of Torrington, Connecticut.
- On December 15, 1997 a construction contract was awarded to Konover
Construction of West Hartford, Connecticut for the South Campus Chiller
project. In addition to chilled water, this project provides emergency
power and centralized fire protection for buildings on the south side
of campus. The project will be completed July 1, 1998.
- On January 15, 1998 a construction contract was awarded to O & G
Industries of Torrington, Connecticut for the Music and Drama/Music Additions
and Renovations project. Included in the project are a new Orchestra
Building, a new Music Library Building, and renovations to the existing
Music and Drama/Music buildings. The project is scheduled for completion
in September 1999.
- On March 10, 1998 a construction contract was awarded to Carlin Construction
of Waterford, Connecticut on the White Building code project. Included
in the project is the upgrading of the Dairy Bar. The project is scheduled
for completion May 1999.
- Construction activity was stopped on the new Central Warehouse facility
in March 1998 after discovery of solid waste material under the parking
lot at the project site. The University is working with the Department
of Environmental Protection on solutions to this issue so that the project
can move forward in a timely and environmentally appropriate manner.
- Babbidge Library repairs are continuing under the management of the
Department of Public Works. The project is scheduled for completion in
August 1998.
- The UCONN 2000 endowment matching gift program has been a resounding
success, resulting in unprecedented levels of giving from alumni and
other friends of the University.
- To date, the $20 million in state dollar match to private gifts as
provided by the UCONN 2000 legislation is either in-hand or fully committed.
During the first year of the program, $9.1 million in gifts was received.
During calendar year 1997, an additional $6.5 million was received and,
fiscal year-to-date, $500, 000 has been received. The remaining $3.8
million will be collected by December 31, 1998 in order to be eligible
to receive the full match from the State.
- In recognition of the program's success, the General Assembly enacted
a continuation and restructuring of the match on a 1:2 basis (one state
dollar to every two private dollars). From Fiscal Year 2000 to Fiscal
Year 2007, the state grant may total up to $52.5 million, depending on
the level of donations actually received. To date, $1.8 million in pledges
has been received against the newly enacted 1:2 matching gift program.
- The $9.1 million in state funds to match the private gifts received
in 1996 was paid in December 1997 and immediately invested.
- In February 1998, the Board of Trustees submitted to the State a
request for $6.8 million in matching funds to be paid against the endowment
gifts received in 1997. It is expected that the match will be paid by
the State before the end of calendar year 1998.
- The size of individual gifts has increased dramatically since the
inception of the UCONN 2000 matching gifts program. As of March 31, 1998,
57 donors made contributions of between $25,000 and $99,999. During the
same period, 18 donors made gifts of $100,000 or more.
- The total endowment assets for the University were $118 million at
March 31, 1998. The Foundation's total endowment assets were $104 million
(this amount does not include the state match), which represents growth
of 21% over the balance of $86 million at June 30, 1997.
As of April 3, 1998, $317.7 million of total project authorizations has been
allocated and approved for bonding by the Board of Trustees and the Governor.
On February 21, 1996, "The University of Connecticut General Obligation Bonds
1996 Series A", the first series of bonds secured by the State's Debt Service
Commitment, were issued in the amount of $83.9 million. On April 24, 1997, "The
University of Connecticut General Obligation Bonds 1997 Series A" were issued
in the amount of $124.4 million. Major projects funded through these first two issuances
include the Chemistry Building, Stamford Downtown Campus Relocation, the Avery Point
Marine Sciences Research Center, the Parking Garage, Deferred Maintenance work and
Capital Equipment purchases.
As of April 30, 1997, the UCONN 2000 Debt Service Commitment bonds were rated "AA-" by
Standard & Poors, "A-1" by Moody's Investors Service, and "AA-" by
Fitch Investors Service. In addition, certain maturities of bonds are insured with "AAA" rated
municipal bond insurance. The State Treasurer managed the Debt Service Commitment
Bond sale process and invested the proceeds for these issues.
The University is also authorized to issue Special Obligation Revenue bonds.
Unlike the Debt Service Commitment bonds (for which debt service is paid out of
the State's General Fund), the Special Obligation Bonds are paid for out of certain
pledged revenues of the University as defined in the particular bond series indenture.
On February 4, 1998, the University issued $33.6 million of the University of
Connecticut Student Fee Revenue Bonds 1998 Series A. The University managed the
issuance and sale of these bonds and realized a favorable true interest cost of
5.01% over the twenty-nine year term. The main source of repayment of the bonds
is the Infrastructure Maintenance student fee.
The majority of the proceeds of the Revenue Bond issue will be used to finance
a portion of the cost of the South Campus residential halls and consolidated dining
hall facility. Additionally, part of the proceeds were use to fund a Special Capital
Reserve Fund ("SCRF"). The State SCRF enhancement allowed the bonds to
obtain a "AA-" rating from Standard & Poor's with a positive outlook,
a "AA-" rating from Fitch Investors Service, and a "A-1" rating
from Moody's Investors Service. The bonds were subsequently insured by MBIA and
upgraded to a "AAA" rating category at Fitch and Standard & Poor's
and "Aaa" at Moody's Investors Service.
The University, in conjunction with the Office of the State Treasurer, is currently
planning a new Debt Service Commitment Bond which has an anticipated issuance schedule
of May 1998. Generally, the University plans on issuing a series of bonds at least
annually for the duration of the UCONN 2000 Project building period.
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