Updates to improvements around campus

[ST_Lawson]

ST I believe I remember you saying you worked on the WIU Campus Projects page and just wanted to say this page is awesome I check in about once a week and someone has regularly updated photos of ongoing projects and made it easy to watch as these are completed. Definitely makes and alumni happy to be able to see what is going on there and feel a part somewhat. Thanks again!

I appreciate it, although I can't really take all the credit. I designed and coded the pages, then wrote some backend code that actually pulls from another location that makes it much easier for the staff at Facilities Management to post updates to the status and new photos. So, I got everything in place, but the weekly updates you're seeing are actually done by someone else.

Also, Facilities Management specifically hired someone to handle things like getting content for their website and other printed and digital materials, designing publications, etc. The person they ended up hiring was a designer here at DPS for quite a few years, so I'd actually worked with her quite a bit before this (her office for the past 5 years was ~10 feet from mine). She's very proactive and has done a great job in getting info and stuff to me to get put together and posted.

I also wanted to mention, I passed by the new CPA Parking Lot area just about an hour ago, and it looks like all the concrete for the lot and curbs are all down and set. There were a few guys on the lot, doing some finalizing stuff on it (cutting in grooves so it can expand/contract with the weather without completely falling apart, I think) and other workers were pouring in some rock and stuff on the backside of the hill near the new stairs. Also, the part that's going to still be grass/ML practice field looks like it's been smoothed out, reseeded, and covered up with hay. If I had to guess, I'd say they'll be painting lines and finishing up the landscaping stuff around it within another week or so (if the weather is decent). Probably won't be done by next weekend's home game, but by the last home football game in November, it should be ready to go.

[WIU0812]

Guess that means the CPA will be going out for bid to companies probably in the beginning to middle of November, I know they wanted to start the building as soon as the lot was done which seems like will be soon! Exciting times.

[ST_Lawson]

Guess that means the CPA will be going out for bid to companies probably in the beginning to middle of November, I know they wanted to start the building as soon as the lot was done which seems like will be soon! Exciting times.

Might be out for bid already actually. According to the timeline on the CPA page (http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/fm/cpa.php) Fall 2014 is when they are scheduled to award the contract, then late 2014 or early 2015 is when they're supposed to start construction. It's supposed to take ~3 years to be completed, with a tentatively scheduled opening for Spring 2018.

[WIU0812]

I do not think it is out yet, I have not seen or heard anything and that site that shows University procurement does not have anything on it yet. Like I said sometime soon though it should be going out.

[Neckfansince71]

ST, I really like what you are doing with the Facilities page also! I like the brick medians and I sure hope they are going to resurface the street sometime in the future. Probably will have to wait until CPA is done! This area seems to also be lacking trees! So what did they put on top of the pillars? jc

[ST_Lawson]

ST, I really like what you are doing with the Facilities page also! I like the brick medians and I sure hope they are going to resurface the street sometime in the future. Probably will have to wait until CPA is done! This area seems to also be lacking trees! So what did they put on top of the pillars? jc

Just ran past the pillars this morning in the Fallen Soldiers 5K. So far, nothing on top of the pillars, but it looks like they still have a little work left to do on them, so I'd expect something on top (I hope).

[WIU0812]

I am pretty sure the only thing going on top is a brick cap.

[wiu712]

What did they put on top of the pillars?

My best guess would be that a street light globe would be going on top of those two pillars at Adams & Western Avenue.

Something similar to the street light globes that are on top of the 4 pillars at the main (north) entry point into Hanson Field.

[WIU0812]

WIU needs to take a note from U of I with the alumni association. I saw the below post on facebook regarding their area where they allow the alumni to buy decorative pavers and have them engraved. Definitely looks very nice and would be a great way to add a new aspect to the alumni of the school.

[wiu712]

Monmouth College does something very similar with bricks.

It is a good idea.