Steel Framework of Humanities and Social Sciences Building is Reaching Higher at A-State
JONESBORO -- Steel installation for the Humanities and Social Sciences building at Arkansas State University is showing progress, as workers are erecting the framework to complete the top level of the four-story building.
Contractors expect to “top out” the building in January, according to David Handwork, director of planning, design and construction for ASU Facilities Management.
“The concrete for the second, third and fourth floors has been poured and finished, while the first floor concrete will be poured in the coming weeks,” Handwork continued. “Utility rough-in is still underway, and we are confirming the layout of the two sloped-floor auditoriums on the ground floor level prior to pouring the final concrete.”
After all structural steel is in place, contractors will proceed to complete the building envelope, which includes the roof and exterior walls.
The building will be the new home of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. This will include the academic departments now housed in Wilson Hall, plus one department in another building: Criminology, Sociology and Geography; English and Philosophy; History; Political Science; and World Languages and Cultures.
“Just as the liberal arts form the core of a college education, the new building will be at the heart of every ASU student’s experience on this campus,” said Dr. Lauri Umansky, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Our courses engage students deeply in the world around them. And we have a first-rate faculty. That we will soon be able to offer this kind of high-quality education from a spectacular, state-of-the-art facility is truly exciting.”
The resumption of construction, which occurred after Gov. Mike Beebe and State Sen. Paul Bookout of Jonesboro released additional state funding, followed an updated review of the floor plans. While the university incorporated some changes to address revised program needs, classroom capacities and the distribution of classroom sizes were virtually unchanged.
The four-story building, with 120,625 feet of space, will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs, faculty offices, departmental suites and conference rooms. It will have 24 percent more space than Wilson Hall.
Funding committed to the project totals $16.7 million to date, Handwork added.
The project architects are AMR Architects Inc. and Cahoon Steiling Studio Architecture of Jonesboro. The contractor is Tate General Contractors.
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