I keep forgetting that not everyone is as aware of the HUB renovation as the leaders of ASUW & GPSS. So to quickly recap: The project has been underway for 4 years. The HUB is closing for 2 years beginning next summer (summer 2010) for an utterly transformative renovation. We’re talking a MAJOR project! Saying that it’s a major disruption and inconvenience for the campus community is an understatement, but when the HUB reopens in Sept 2012, I think you’ll agree that it was worth the aggravation.

We are seeking students, faculty and staff who want to be a part of the HUB’s future by volunteering for one of the HUB Transitional Teams (e.g., Celebrations, Events/Activities, Promotions). The Kickoff event for the Teams was this week and it was an outstanding afternoon. We were completely overwhelmed by the turnout (over 70 folks). Interested? Send a quick email to Rene Singleton as singlet@uw.edu, and she’ll hook you up with the co-chairs.

Please stay tuned to this blog (who would have ever thought that I’d blog about something other than single-malts?) for HUB project updates and announcements. Cheers. Lincoln (HUB Director)

Hope the summer has been good. After years of student leadership and initiative, in July 2009, the UW Board of Regents approved the HUB renovation project which means that the project is definitely happening. Periodically we will provide progress reports to the campus community via this HUB blog and emails.

We are currently in the process called design development where the internal and external layout of the building is finalized. This means the elements of the program (offices, programs, services, amenities) are placed on the various floors and the adjacencies/relationships to other programs in the building are considered. The placement of offices, programs and services is all but complete at this stage of the process. We hope to post updated plans here on the blog and SAUF website.

While we finalize the layout of the program, drawings of the mechanical, electrical, structural and plumbing systems are also being developed. The DD phase should be finished in early December at which point we will begin to develop the construction documents to prepare for bidding by the project sub-contractors. Our General Contractor/Construction Manager is Skanska USA Building Inc., who has previously worked on several campus renovation/construction projects (e.g., Guggenheim and Johnson).

Presently the schedule for moving out of the HUB is:

• July 1, 2010: the sub-basement, basement and ground floors will be vacated
• September 1, 2010: the first, second and third floors will be vacated.

Because of the extensive abatement of hazardous materials that is needed before actual construction can begin, we have to phase in this part of the process in order to meet the construction schedule that allows the HUB to reopen for the start of fall quarter 2012.

Condon Hall has been identified as the surge space for the HUB Project. The second, fourth and fifth floors have been reserved for the relocation of HUB offices and services. In case you are wondering, the third floor will be used by the Ethnic Cultural Center during their construction project. We are working with the Capital Space and Planning Office (CAPSO) on the allocation of the Condon Hall space. We hope to finish that by the end of October. Once finalized, tours will be organized for those who want to see the relocation in Condon.

After the start of school, we will arrange times to meet with the various HUB office spaces holders to talk about move-out procedures and all that goes along with that.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you!

Paul