Schools

Summer is Construction Season at Kent State

New 'Campus Green,' Esplanade among projects breaking ground or under construction this year

Each summer construction ramps up at 's eight campuses.

The projects are more often than not inconspicuous, but this year Kent State will get a facelift to reconstruct its entrances on two sides of the main campus.

Michael Bruder, director of design and construction in the Office of the University Architect at Kent State, gave a presentation on the university's 48 construction projects to the Kent Planning Commission Tuesday.

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The presentation included two of the larger projects: on the western edge of campus and the at the southern edge.

Bruder said the $4.5 million Campus Green project is an extension of the renovation work to Risman Plaza and will create a level green space with performance area stretching from the Kent State Student Center all the way to Summit Street.

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"This project is really designed as a new front door to campus," Bruder said.

Eventually, the university will renovate the facade of the adjacent Williams Hall, built in 1966, to accent the new student green space and repair some structural issues.

"We’re going to do something to that building, but I’m not sure what it is yet," he said.

As part of the project, a portion of Risman Drive will be eliminated and some parking spots in the visitor lot will be relocated across Summit Street. The green itself is expected to be finished this fall.

"We’re not anticipating it, but if we ever wanted to hold an outdoor commencement we could put 5,000 folding chairs on this lawn," Bruder said.

The other new face of campus connects downtown Kent with the university via the Esplanade extension, which will extend the pedestrian pathway directly west from the atrium at the to Haymaker Parkway.

Bruder said the pathway will be on a constant, level grade from the museum all the way to Haymaker Parkway, where a "great lawn" green space will be available for public use.

"We’re going to be raising all that grade up so the sidwalk and lawn area along Haymaker match the road (level) more closely," he said. "We do see this as a great connection to campus from the downtown redevelopment."

Click on this link to see the full list of construction projects.


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