Karen Zelt, communications manager for the Physical Plant, said the event was a good student resource, providing an opportunity for students to engage in conversation with a division of campus where there usually isn’t a lot of communication.

Zelt encouraged students to visit the Physical Plant’s website, as well as Facebook, Twitter or YouTube accounts for more information and traffic updates.

“We also have monthly public meetings called Construction Junctions where our designers and construction representatives present on projects and give updates,” Zelt said. “It’s a really great venue to ask questions and get some information.”

Zelt said some of the major projects affecting campus this summer and beyond include the Plant and Soil Sciences building expansion, Emmons Hall renovations, Brody Hall cafeteria renovations, Bott Building for Nursing Education and Research construction and utility relocation for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB.

Construction on the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, which broke ground about a month ago, will continue throughout the summer.

“The Plant Science project, in conjunction with the utility relocation project, is going to cause some significant impact to the Wilson-Bogue area between May 10 and the end of June,” Zelt said. “It’s the lesser of two evils. If the project was done differently, Wilson Road might have to be closed for several years.”

One lane of eastbound Wilson Road will be closed for the year as part of the Plant and Soil Sciences building construction, but Zelt said Physical Plant officials are working to enhance its detour maps and rerouting campus to make construction easier to navigate.

Construction on Wells Hall’s B-Wing is expected to begin in September to replace the space lost in demolition of Morrill Hall, pending MSU Board of Trustees approval in June.

Zelt said this addition will put all three large lecture halls in Wells Hall out of commission, as well as the spaces where the University Activities Board and the East Lansing Film Festival hold events. Alternative spaces to hold events and classes have been found on campus, she said.

Demolition of the century-old Morrill Hall is planned for early 2013.

Biological science and education senior Josh Wrinkle stopped by the rock Tuesday to take a picture with his friends and Captain Construction. He said it is important for the university to be transparent about what is going on with construction projects.

“I think events like this can help us understand what the university is using its money to add (to campus) and what it’s doing to help the campus,” Wrinkle said. “I have some classes near the construction, so I might look into some of the resources that they have to see what’s going on.”

Kailey Poort, a communication senior and intern for the Physical Plant, said it is important to communicate information about construction to students.
“I’ve lived here in the summers, and sometimes, a road is closed and you have no idea why,” Poort said.

“With these resources, students can plan accordingly, like, maybe I have to leave 10 minutes early because Wilson Road is closed this week. It helps everything run more smoothly on campus.”