The Bucks campus construction
projects – which are slated to
continue until May 2010 – continue
in an attempt to provide
greater access to disabled students.
In the meantime, getting
around campus can be tricky.
Several areas on the campus are
either impassible or difficult to
move through during high-traffic
times because of construction
being performed during campus
hours. These areas include the
gap between Founder’s and Penn
halls, the ground floor of the
Rollins Center around the
Fireside Lounge, and the campus
Faculty Center.
These campus improvements,
with a budget above $1.6 million,
are causing large areas of pedestrian
walkways to be blocked by
chain-link fencing and yellow
plastic tape. This has caused students
and faculty to re-plan their
routes between classes and buildings
as the construction continues.
This inconvenience will not
end anytime soon. Bucks began
this work back in May 2009, and
it is on schedule to continue until
May 2010.
Some students around campus
have an optimistic outlook
toward the timetable of the construction.
Robert Caso, 19, a
graphic arts major from Solebury,
was not aware that the construction
would last that long. ” … I
guess by Christmas I could see it
being done, or close to being
done, and certainly ready to go by
the next semester… toward the
end of January when we pick up
after the winter session.”
The construction was a predicted
impediment to foot traffic
on campus, but not all problems
have been foreseeable. On Oct. 6,
Prof. Ronald Feeback’s Video Studio
Production class was evacuated
from the classroom when the
smell of something burning was
detected in the studio. What was
originally suspected to be burning
wires turned out to be metal grinding
close to the ventilation inlet
outside the Fireside Lounge. Once
Bucks Security and Safety personnel
responded to the incident,
class was able to resume.
Although the construction is a
nuisance to some, the goal of the
overall plan is to increase the mobility
for those who need it most.
Mark Grisi, executive director of
physical plant services, described
the ADA (Americans with Disabilities
Act) improvements: “A
new elevator is being installed [in
Rollins Center] to allow access
between the two floors, a new
ADA compliant ramp is installed
for access to the Fireside Lounge,
a new elevator stop at the Fireside
Lounge is also being installed in
the existing Library Elevator, and
a new elevator is being constructed
on the exterior of
Founders Hall.”
In addition, Grisi mentioned
that new ramps and more ADA –
compliant doors would be installed
in the Faculty Center.
These improvements will do more
to level the field for full campus
access to Bucks students with disabilities.
The Fireside Lounge was recently
re-opened to students, and
several of the improvements have
not gone unnoticed by students
who enjoy hanging out in the
space. Kevin Ruddell, 21, a network
administration major from
Langhorne said, “I like the handicap
ramp, wood paneling is nice I
guess . not so much a fan of the
tile.”
Despite the lounge being
opened to students, it remains
quiet so far as Ruddell observed,
“It seems a lot more empty, but I
think that’s because not everyone’s
come back yet. Not everyone
knows the lounge is open.”
The construction is moving
ahead of schedule, with no foreseen
setbacks. The walkways on
campus may be back to full condition
before May 2010, and better
still, Bucks students with
mobility issues will be able to
enjoy better use of campus facilities
like never before.