Summer Facilities Work Also Includes First Phases of LINC and Olney Science Center Modernization

Four people walk past construction fencing on a campus quad. Image by Ed Brennen
When the fencing comes down around a portion of the South Campus quad in a few weeks, students, faculty and staff will be able to enjoy a redesigned green space with new walking paths.

09/05/2024
By Ed Brennen

Students arriving for the fall semester will find construction fencing around a portion of the popular South Campus quad.

Not to worry, though: The fencing is scheduled to come down in mid-October. When it does, students will be able to enjoy a completely redesigned open space with accessible walking paths, improved lighting and drainage, and stronger WiFi coverage.

“It’s going to be a better open space for students to gather in that will look much nicer, and it’s going to create a better environment for people with accessibility issues,” says Facilities Management Project Manager Konstantinos Zervas. 

The entire area between O’Leary Library, McGauvran Center and Weed Hall was regraded, with a new stormwater drainage system added to prevent water from collecting in the plaza. The gazebo and concrete steps in front of O’Leary were removed, and a new revolving door has been installed at the main entrance to O’Leary.

An artist rendering of a campus quad with walking paths.
An artist rendering of the redesigned South Campus quad.

During the current, final phase of the $1.8 million project, a portion of the new plaza will soon be reopened in front of O’Leary, giving students a continuous, accessible pathway to and from Sheehy and Concordia residence halls, as well as the Moloney Performing Arts Center (formerly Durgin Hall).

The South Campus quad renovation is among more than 90 projects — both big and small — that Facilities Management tackled this summer while students were away. Here are some of the highlights:

Construction trucks parked outside of a building next to a new bus stop. Image by Ed Brennen
The bus loop outside of the Olney Science Center has been reconfigured to allow for future construction at the North Campus building.
On North Campus, the bus loop outside of the Olney Science Center was temporarily reconfigured to allow for construction work to begin on the Olney modernization project. The first phase of the project, slated to start in November, will be the demolition of the Olney 150 lecture hall, as well as the adjacent Environmental Health & Safety facilities and loading dock. A new 51,000-square-foot addition, scheduled to be complete in November 2026, will feature a new main entrance to Olney and instructional spaces, as well as a new chemical handling facility. The project also calls for the renovation of 45,000 square feet of the remaining building, with improved instructional labs and classrooms and new student spaces.

On East Campus, the wheels have begun to turn on the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, or LINC, an $800 million-plus public-private venture that plans to create over 1 million square feet of new lab and office space, hundreds of units of housing, new retail and entertainment venues and thousands of jobs. Phase 0 of the project involves moving corporate, private and governmental partners into space at the Wannalancit Business Center, which required the relocation of several UML offices over the summer:

• Human Resources is now at Wannalancit Suite 520
• Administrative Services is now on the first floor of the Charles Hoff Alumni Scholarship Center
• Facilities Management is now at 45 Lawrence Drive
• The Office of Brand, Communications & Creative Strategy is now on the second and third floors of the Graduate and Professional Studies Center
• Hospitality & Event Services is now at University Crossing 186
• The offices of Budget & Financial Planning, Research Integrity and Sponsored Programs are now at University Crossing M40
• The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production is now at 820 Broadway Street
• The Controller’s Office is now at University Crossing M30, and
• The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is now at Wannalancit Suite 450


Two students walk past a dining facility outside a residential building. Image by Ed Brennen
The Hawk's Nest QuickStop Cafe has opened at University Suites.
Ames Hall has also been vacated in anticipation of LINC construction work, with lab space moved to Olney.

At University Suites on East Campus, the Hawk’s Nest is reopening after being dormant for several years. Now called the Hawk’s Nest QuickStop Cafe, it is open Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight. Students can enjoy grab-and-go snacks and a late-night menu including mac and cheese bowls, chicken wing and tots bowls and chicken pizzadillas (pizza with a chicken quesadilla “twist”).

At Fox Hall, public elevator access has been added to the Fox Dining Commons on the second floor.

A room with several desks and work stations. Image by Ed Brennen
Hoteling space is now available at the Graduate and Professional Studies Center.
Students, faculty and staff in need of quiet desk space for an hour, or even a day, can now reserve a “hoteling” station on the first floor of the Graduate and Professional Studies Center, located at 839 Merrimack St. Two dozen stations are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in rooms 100 and 105 (a UCard is required to access the rooms). Stations can be reserved on the 25Live booking platform or on the spot by scanning its QR code. Facilities Management will soon be adding several lockers to each room, which will be available for day use.

At University Crossing, textbooks are now available on the first floor of the River Hawk Shop. Work is underway on a new eSports gaming center on the lower level; it is scheduled to open in February.
Two students prepare to ride electric scooters outside of a business school building. Image by Ed Brennen
Facilities Management has installed several new escooter racks around campus.

Back on South Campus, renovation work is nearly complete on the 3D art studio on the lower level of Dugan Hall. The project will provide updated workspace for wood shop and ceramics, with instructional stations and benches, storage areas and loading dock access.

Several new bicycle and electric scooter racks have been installed across campus this summer, and Facilities Management planted 150 new trees and shrubs.

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