Projects delayed at KSU-Salem

By Melody Gustafson
SALEM -- A few hurdles have popped up during the summer months, slowing the completion of some projects at the main building said business manager Henry Trenkelbach.

To maintain university compliance with House Bill 251, an unfunded mandate to reduce energy costs at state operated institutions, A & I Studio will replace the glass window and door units that comprise the exits on the front and sides of the building. However, a delay in the shipping of materials until Sept. 23 has pushed the work back another week and completion has been tentatively planned for the first or second weeks of Nov.

The door components are only tentatively prefabricated, and in this case, custom doors are in the works. "It's not like getting a loaf of bread on a store shelf," said Trenkelbach, "They only make so many [doors], and there are so many different kinds to carry them all in stock. There has also been a shortage of material vendors- probably because of the difficult economy." The glass portion that surrounds the doors themselves has already arrived.

The handicap accessible door that was on the faculty and staff side doors has been temporarily moved to the rear of the building and handicap parking spaces have been relocated there, in the vicinity of the greenhouse.

Because of delays, the gymnasium that was slated for the bulldozer in Oct. to prepare for construction of the massive health and sciences wing has been pushed back to the spring.

In other news, the outdoor improvements are nearly done. The weathered, crumbling steps leading from the student parking lot have been replaced by Jim Santini Construction of Washingtonville and are now perfectly safe. Pantalone Paving and Sealing has completed cleaning and sealing half of the student parking lot, and the remaining half will be done too.