December updates on campus construction
News and updates on construction and other projects around campus:
• The Science Annex II building has been awarded the LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the council’s rating system for the design and construction of energy-efficient and high-performing buildings. The HTC Center and Brittain Hall both earned LEED Gold status in 2015, respectively, making them the third and fourth LEED buildings at the University. In 2010, the Adkins Field House earned LEED Gold as the first LEED building at Coastal Carolina University. In 2012, the Bryan Information Commons earned LEED Silver status.
• Smith Science Building: Substantial completion was expected at the end of last week. Furniture is set to arrive in early December so faculty and staff can start moving in before the winter break.
• Flow tank, not wave tank: The structure in the Coastal and Marine Systems Science area that we’ve been calling a “wave tank” is more correctly a “flow tank.” Its purpose is to study the physics of fluids as they flow, hence, a “flow tank.” This could be anything from currents in the ocean to the movement of blood through the body.
Marine science graduate students are studying the physics of the dorsal fins of a lemon shark and will initially use a plastic model of the fins to gather data. The next research will be measuring the flow of water over a dead lemon shark, and the final stage will measure a live lemon shark’s movement. The lemon shark is the only shark with equal size dorsal fins. The study will either prove the efficiency of this over other species or the inefficiency. This could possibly show that the lemon shark has evolved faster than other shark species, or it could be that it has not evolved and is possibly facing future extinction.
• Wall Fountain: Construction of the new fountain in front of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration has begun. The perimeter has seating around an enhanced green space at each open area outside of the front entrance parking loop. The new foundation will be in place when the students return to campus in January 2018.
• Wheelwright Auditorium: The men’s and women’s restrooms are being renovated. Construction began Nov. 27 and estimated substantial completion is Jan. 26, 2018.
• University Place Dining Hall: Inspections have been made, and Aramark began dining operations Nov. 27 when students returned from Thanksgiving break.
• New dining option: Subway closed Dec. 1 to make room for construction and the opening of Freshens. Freshëns, an Atlanta-based, healthy “fast casual” restaurant, will replace Subway in CINO Grille as of the spring semester 2018. The restaurant offers prepared-to-order food with fresh ingredients, as well as fresh blended smoothies and frozen yogurt.
Freshëns is a privately held company that’s been in operation for more than 30 years with 500 locations, including 300 colleges and universities.
Construction will take place in December over the Christmas break, said Sandy Baldridge-Adrian, director of contractual and business services, citing the market match survey that Aramark conducted as the reason behind the change. A need for more variety and the ability to use meal swipes contributed, she said.
