Demolition
possible for expansion
By Mario Burciaga
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
The need for a new, more accommodating, state of the art science building at
Cal State Long Beach has administration officials pleading for funding and project
approval that would lead to the demolision of two campus buildings.
Associate Vice President of Physical Planning and Facilities Management Scott
Charmack said Peterson Hall 3 along with the link connecting Peterson Hall 3
and Peterson Hall 2 and Lecture Halls 48 and 50 are all presumably on the demolition
list.
Charmack said all three PH buildings were constructed in the 1950s before the
current health and safety codes and regulations had to be implemented in construction
plans. He also said the buildings’ low standards do not allow the flexibility
to renovate or accommodate new and existing programs.
“
It’s old and it needs care it doesn’t have,” said Mark Ruwedel,
program head of the photography department.
Also, the lack of proper accommodation of the photography department, currently
operating in PH 2, has Ruwedel uneasy.
“
I just know that the photography department should be in one of the fine arts
buildings. My space is inadequate for the present and the future,” he
said.
Also commenting on the bad conditions of the PH buildings was astronomy professor
Kim Gordon, who scorned the heating and cooling system but welcomed the improvements.
“
I don’t know if its cheaper to refurbish or not but I think the construction
of a new building will be an improvement whether or not
it’s
cost effective,” he said. “I just don’t want to see my tax
money go to waste.”
Charmack said if everything goes as planned, the destruction of PH 3 and LH 48
and 50 will make room for a new technologically advanced science facility somewhat
similar to the Molecular and Life Sciences Center.
The proposed $83 million science facility is projected to be three stories, 160,000
square feet and nearly 75 percent larger than the MLCS building, Charmack said.
Science facilities are the most expensive facilities that can be built and even
though there is a lot in the works, the project is only in the preliminary stages.
According to a CSULB Economic Impact Report for Construction Activities, the
proposed $83 million PH Project will only be $14 million less than the $97 million
used in construction activities for the last five years combined, with the exception
of the current fiscal year.
The report also stated that since the 2000-01 fiscal year, CSULB has spent about
$97 million in capital funds to build the MLSC in the College of Natural Sciences
and Mathematics, remodel the University Student Union as well as renovation in
the Fine Arts buildings in the College of the Arts.
Since the proposed $83 million is only going to be utilized for raw construction,
the total cost for the PH Project which is believed to escalate, is truly unknown,
Charmack said.
Susan Brown, director of Physical Planning, said capital funding for the 2006-07
fiscal year, including funding for the PH Project, is included in the governor’s
budget and is dependent on a capital bond that will hopefully be put on the November
ballot.
“
We have an academic need for new facilities, it just takes a while because of
the long procedures,” she said.
Charmack said the cost for construction goes up every month and there are still
a lot of hurdles.
“
Our commitment is to get started as soon as possible because our students and
faculty have an educational need,” he said.
If passed through the Legislature and approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
the one-time proposal will be put on the ballot, allowing voters to decide for
themselves if they want the new building.
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