Construction on The Quad delayed, new Java City opens

Due to adverse weather, campus construction on The Quad has been delayed. Originally, the deadline was for the middle or end of December. Now, the completion date has been moved to the middle of February.

The project is still on budget and should it not be completed by the time Chancellor Bardo steps down, the construction will continue due to contractual obligations.

Wiley Harris, the director of Facilities Planning Design and Construction, explained the process of how the construction is working.

“The first phase involves the fountain and the middle of The Quad and the second will take place between the middle and the right end toward Scott Hall,” said Harris. “During this phase, students will be able to walk directly through campus from Centennial Drive to University Way. The third phase involves working near Centennial Drive on the opposite side of The Quad.”

Traffic patterns will not change during any phases of construction.

In other construction news, the New Health Sciences building is “going well,” according to Harris, but was also delayed due to weather. The building is located across Highway 107 in the direction of the Jackson County Animal Shelter and the Cullowhee airstrip.

The new campus book store has been going slow as construction has had to work around the store’s schedule. However, the store should be finished before the summer.

The new Java City was completed at the end of Christmas Break and opened at the beginning of the spring semester. Now, there is more room for both customers and employees. There is also a new mini-grocery store, POD Express, at the same location.

“It’s confusing having to learn where things are,” said Java City employee Kellie Hayes. “But we’re learning! I like having all the extra space… It’s much more convenient for us and the customers.”

The new Java City is now located where the old snack bar used to be. Upon entering the library, take a right after the circulation desk and keep going back. Java City can also be entered from the side door when approaching from the Breese gym and Stillwell.

There is still a bit of construction connecting Java City with the library to make way for a new theatre room, but it will not impact the coffee house’s operation. Java City is open 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday. They are closed on Saturday and re-open 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday.