- What is the timeline for moving and closures?
- How will this renovation maintain the character of the original MSC?
- What does it mean to obtain a LEED Silver classification?
- Where will the memorial elements (Medal of Honor recipient plaques and other memorial plaques) be stored during construction?
- I've heard that the Flag Room will remain the same. Is this true?
- Are the art galleries going to be closed during construction?
- Will the Post Office come back to the MSC?
- Will the MSC retain its name or will a donor be able to rename the MSC after him or herself?
- How will bicycle parking be accommodated without the space underneath the breezeway being available?
- How can student organizations market themselves and their programs while the building is under construction?
- Will marketing and promotional spaces be available to student organizations in the renovated MSC?
- Will there still be meeting and event space for my organization? How do I reserve meeting and event space?
- Will the MSC Guest Rooms reopen once the building reopens?
- Why can't the project be done in several phases instead of all at once?
- Why is there so much concern about safety?
- What decisions have already been made?
- What is the timeline for the project? How will you ensure the project is completed on time?
- Why renovate the facility? Why not just bring the building up to standards?
- How have former students responded to this and how does it benefit them?
- Will additional funds be raised to support the project?
- How do I provide input about this project?
- Where will student organizations meet or hold events during the three years of construction?
- Where will the Bookstore relocate?
- What is the timeline for moving and closures?
The MSC will remain open until Friday, August 14, 2009 at 5 p.m. The construction manager will take control of the building on August 15, 2009. Many MSC occupants have already relocated, with all occupants currently scheduled to relocate by the first week of August. Please note that the relocation schedule is tentative and subject to change. If you need to visit any of the offices listed in the relocation plan, we strongly encourage you to call first to confirm location and hours of operation.top
- How will this renovation maintain the character of the original MSC?
- What does it mean to obtain a LEED Silver classification?
- Where will the memorial elements (Medal of Honor recipient plaques and other memorial plaques) be stored during construction?
- I've heard that the Flag Room will remain the same. Is this true?
- Are the art galleries going to be closed during construction?
- Will the Post Office come back to the MSC?
- Will the MSC retain its name or will a donor be able to rename the MSC after him or herself?
- How will bicycle parking be accommodated without the space underneath the breezeway being available?
- How can student organizations market themselves and their programs while the building is under construction?
- Will marketing and promotional spaces be available to student organizations in the renovated MSC?
- Will there still be meeting and event space for my organization? How do I reserve meeting and event space?
- Will the MSC Guest Rooms reopen once the building reopens?
- Why can't the project be done in several phases instead of all at once?
The key priority for project planners is the safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors who utilize the facility. Based on consultation with key architectural, construction and safety officials, it was determined that if construction is continuous, rather than carried out in multiple phases, the overall length of time that the MSC and surrounding area would be an active construction site would be significantly minimized. Also, if construction were to be conducted in phases, the part of the facility that would remain open would be subjected to the noise, unsafe job-site issues and confusion associated with construction.
Another safety issue during the project is asbestos removal. This is necessary in addition to making the facility fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, installation of fire alarm and sprinkler systems, replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems throughout the entire facility.
Construction experts have also pointed out that, as a rule, working in an occupied facility, in addition to safety concerns, increases construction costs by approximately 8% to 10%. Therefore, reducing the construction period reduces the construction cost and the cost savings can then be used for actual building improvements for the $100 million project.top
-
Why is there so much concern about safety?
Safety is always paramount. For safety purposes at any construction or renovation site, it is important to place or erect barriers to prevent unauthorized access to the area. In general, construction areas have many potential dangers including electrical hazards, mechanical hazards, tripping hazards, falling objects and sharp objects, to name a few. In particular, when asbestos remediation is necessary, which is the case with the MSC project, a full containment is installed. This process prevents the fibers from entering the ventilation system of the building, therefore preventing public exposure to asbestos fibers, which is associated with lung disease. Asbestos removal for this facility will be extensive and must be handled in an appropriate manner.top
-
What decisions have already been made?
Working within the decision-making processes identified by former President Murano, the following decisions have been made:
1. The budget for the project has been set at $100M – additional alternates will be created in association with fund-raising efforts.
2. A single-phase construction approach will be used. (See FAQ #14 for an explanation of this decision.)
3. Based on input from students, faculty and staff as well as recommendations from the user and advisory committees and project architects, five concepts have been identified to serve as benchmarks against which renovation and expansion decisions will be prioritized. These concepts are:
a. Enhance the symbolic representation of the building as a memorial to include maintaining the essential character of the Flag Room and placing the Medal of Honor recipients and other memorial plaques in prominent and readily visible locations.
b. Construct new ballroom and expand existing meeting room space to accommodate additional programs, meetings and events.
c. Increase connectivity between the MSC and Rudder Fountain Plaza and improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic through the Breezeway.
d. Establish a clearly identifiable main entryway at the Northeast entrance of the MSC and improve functionality and appearances of alternate entrances to draw people into and communicate the importance of the building.
e. Improve visibility of activities and services housed within the MSC through increasing functionality and transparency of space and incorporating natural lighting.top What is the timeline for the project? How will you ensure the project is completed on time?
Our goal is to have the projected completed by the Fall of 2012. The architect and the Construction Manager at Risk have worked collaboratively to finalize construction plans and establish a project schedule. Strict parameters and university and Texas A&M System oversight will be in place to ensure that the project will be completed on time and within budget.The MSC will be closed at the end of the day on August 14, 2009 and turned over to the Construction Manager to begin the construction process. Slide 13 on the most recent Open Forum Presentation contains additional information about construction milestones. top
- Why renovate the facility? Why not just bring the building up to standards?
While bringing the facility up to current building standards is a major objective of the project, at the same time, the building is in dire need of space reallocation and reorganization to provide additional space for student programs, activity, meeting and lounge space. Therefore, it is more prudent and cost effective to address both issues simultaneously. When the MSC opened in 1951, it served a student body of fewer than 7,000. To meet the growing demands of the facility, it was renovated in the early 70s when enrollment was around 11,000, and again in the early 90s when enrollment was approximately 32,000. Now enrollment is at an all-time high, and trends indicate that enrollment will continue to increase and reach 50,000 in coming years.
The MSC’s primary mission is to provide Aggies with a place of their own. It is a place to study, to eat, to relax, to meet, to participate in campus life, and simply to “hang out.” When the architectural team met with student focus groups and current tenants of the MSC, one of the things heard most frequently was the need for more space for precisely these types of activities. The current building just doesn’t provide enough room, and with the campus population likely to continue to increase, demand for space in the MSC will continue to grow.
The end result will be an MSC that retains the qualities and “feel” that make it so important and recognizable to Aggies—the Flag Room, the building’s status as a memorial, the art gallery spaces, the wood carvings—but will be better able to serve its mission as a student center in the best sense of the term and as the “living room” for the entire Aggie family.top
- How have former students responded to this and how does it benefit them?
The feedback we’ve received from former students has been positive. Most agree that as a focal point of our university, the MSC should reflect the high standards of our great institution.
The affection and pride of former students for the MSC is clearly demonstrated on gameday. As you may know, the building is filled, wall-to-wall, with Aggies, many of whom are former students, and with fans and visitors generally. Also, we are confident that, like most Aggies, former students are pleased that the Flag Room will remain virtually intact, while the facility will be enhanced in other ways to better meet the university’s growing needs.
One of the main focuses of this renovation project is to ensure that the facility better reflects what we embody and stand for as Aggies and that it will continue to serve as a living memorial. Many former students have expressed enthusiasm about making a financial contribution to the project. Former students as well as other members of the Aggie Family provided valuable input to project planners during master planning phase discussions.top
- Will additional funds be raised to support the project?
A committee has been established to spearhead development efforts for the MSC renovation project. Potential contributors have been identified and subsequent meetings will be held to extend the potential donors an opportunity to give back to Texas A&M in an important way by supporting this project. The extent of these contributions will help determine our ability to make additional enhancements to the building project.top
- How do I provide input about this project?
Your feedback regarding this project is important to us and thus, there are a number of ways for you to give us your ideas and opinions.
1. Provide feedback to members of the User and Advisory committees. Three committees were established to study, discuss, analyze and ultimately make recommendations to the President concerning the project. To this end, each member on the committee is charged with representing, to the best of their ability, the various constituent groups of the MSC.
2. Utilize the MSC Renovation and Expansion Website--A website has been established to provide information about the project. The site contains information shared at open forums, upcoming meetings, and updates on topics of interest. In addition, comments and questions can be submitted for review and response via email at renovation@msc.tamu.edu.
3. Participate in an MSC Renovation and Expansion Open Forum-- Open forums are designed to update the University community on the progress that has been made and to address questions or comments that people may have about the project and solicit ideas for improvements. Project architects from Perkins + Will, along with members of the Project User Committee and the Project Advisory Committee, will be available to provide information and address questions from the audience. top
- Where will student organizations meet or hold events during the three years of construction?
A task force charged with the moving and relocation of building occupants has explored alternative meeting space and sites to hold events. Organizations that wish to reserve meeting space should contact Hospitality and Event Services for assistance in identifying appropriate meeting and event spaces. top
- Where will the Bookstore relocate?
The MSC Bookstore has moved to G. Rollie White Coliseum for the duration of construction.top
Architecturally, the additions to the facility are the mid-century Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced aesthetic of the original MSC. The proportions of the new addition also maintain the rhythm of the original MSC. The interior finishes will also have references to the original building, including Texas limestone accents.
Focus group meetings with various Aggie community stakeholders – students, faculty, staff and former students – were conducted over the course of the planning process. The meetings resulted in an overwhelming desire to maintain the memorial and tradition aspects of the MSC. Adhering to that strong feedback, the building has been designed to allow the Flag Room to remain the heart of the building, while details such as the Memorial Lawn and the Medal of Honor recipients will be further defined. The strong presence of the Corps of Cadets also will be maintained.top
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, commonly known as LEED, is a rating system that assesses the sustainability of new construction and renovation projects. A project can qualify at four different LEED ratings: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Our Campus Master Plan recommends a Silver rating for all new construction and major renovation. The Texas A&M Council for the Built Environment has gone a step further by requiring that a Silver rating become the standard.
In the LEED assessment, a construction project is evaluated in terms of its sustainability in six different categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Air Quality, and Innovation and Design Process. Points are awarded to a project in each of these categories and are then added together to arrive at a cumulative score. The LEED rating for a project is determined by this cumulative score. A project qualifies at the Silver level with a minimum of 33 points. The maximum amount of points a project can be awarded is 69.
It is important to be aware that LEED is not only designed to encourage energy conservation. Energy savings is only one of six categories that are combined to make up the total points. While it is important that we save energy over the life of our buildings, it is also just as critical that we protect our interior and exterior environment, conserve our natural resources and be as innovative in our design processes as possible.top
The Medal of Honor recipient plaques will be relocated to the Exhibit Hall in Rudder Theatre Complex during the renovation. The woodcarvings will be relocated elsewhere in the Theatre Complex as well. The original dedication plaque with the names of those who died in World Wars I and II will remain in its original location at the north entrance to the MSC (that portion of the facility will undergo minimal construction, so the plaque is in a safe place).
The smaller dedication plaque, also located at the north entrance, will either remain in its current location, or possibly moved to the Spirit Wall, a rotating exhibit that will be built across from the MSC Box Office, on the first floor of Rudder Tower. Other memorial elements of the building may also be displayed on the Spirit Wall at various times during the renovation. We are currently investigating suitable locations for the flags and guidons, currently located in the Flag Room. If suitable locations are not identified, those items will be safely stored until the MSC reopens.top
One of the main objectives of this project is to make the MSC a more welcoming place. Retaining the unique character and look of the Flag Room will certainly help this project achieve that objective. At the same time, we recognize that some minor modifications could undoubtedly enhance the look of the Flag Room and improve the room's energy efficiency. For example, the "egg carton" lighting in the ceiling could potentially be replaced with another system that provides the same light quality, but is easier to maintain and is more energy efficient. Nonetheless, project designers and User Committee members are extremely sensitive to the campus community’s desire to maintain the Flag Room's essential character. Be assured that any notable changes that are made to the Flagroom will be made cautiously.top
Despite the fact that the Stark Galleries physical location in the MSC will be closed during renovation, exhibitions and related art programming will continue at various locations across campus. For announcements and updates regarding these events, please visit our web site at to sign up for our arts Listserv.
The MSC Forsyth Center Galleries, to be relocated to 110 North Main Street in downtown Bryan, will continue to exhibit works from its collection, as well as other exhibits and programs in its temporary home.top
The Aggieland Station Post Office has closed and is not scheduled to reopen. Customers previously served by the Aggieland Post Office are strongly encouraged to use the nearby Northgate Post Office, which is fully equipped to handle campus postal needs. The project leadership team has had to make some difficult decisions to ensure that the project's primary objectives are accomplished. One of the primary objectives for this project, to increase the amount of meeting and lounge space for students in the MSC, will be best accomplished through a combination of new construction and adaptation of current spaces for different purposes. Given Northgate Post Office’s close proximity to the MSC and the need to free up additional space for meeting and lounge facilities, the project leadership team and the U.S. Postal Service decided to close the Aggieland Post Office for the foreseeable future.top
The Memorial Student Center will retain its name. Major donors may be recognized for their contributions to this project in a variety of ways throughout the building, but the name of the MSC will not be altered in any way that will take the focus away from the Aggies to whom the building is dedicated.top
The project plan will include strategically placed bicycle parking locations around the facility. Bicycle parking enforcement will play an integral role in ensuring that the architectural features of the renovated facility remain intact.top
Student organizations can continue to use many of the promotional strategies they currently use—sandwich boards, open access lab screen savers, posters, fliers, etc. Activity Zones will be established at various places around campus to replace the outdoor activities that have typically been conducted on Rudder Fountain Plaza. The process for reserving resource tables in the Activity Zones will not change. Student organizations should also be proactive in developing marketing plans that use electronic media (web sites, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) for promotional purposes. As the beginning of the fall semester draws closer, please refer to the MSC web site and the Student Activities web site for more detailed and updated information about ways student organizations can promote themselves.top
Yes. Design and construction of the interior does not require that we identify marketing and promotional spaces at this time. Specific decisions on details about the types and locations of promotional spaces will be made as construction nears completion or when occupants begin moving back into the MSC.top
Hospitality and Event Services (HES), the unit responsible for scheduling meeting and event facilities in the MSC, Rudder Tower, Koldus, and All Faiths Chapel, will continue to provide this function for student and other University-affiliated organizations. Rudder Theatre Complex facilities, including the Rudder Exhibit Hall, are also available through the Rudder Theatre Complex office.
HES has also made arrangements to schedule meeting space in other selected campus facilities. If you need to find space for an event, contact HES for help in identifying potential on-campus facilities.top
The MSC Guest Rooms are not included in the scope of this project. However, because of the inconvenience that would undoubtedly be caused by construction, the Guest Rooms will be closed while the MSC is being renovated. Discussions regarding how the Guest Rooms will look and function after the MSC reopens are ongoing.top