Klaus construction continues through fall

Due to a four month extension of the construction deadline, the Klaus Computing Building will not be open for classes fall semester.

“The extended date was mutually agreed upon by all parties,” said Ron Leroy, a Facilities project manager. “[Tech] reluctantly agreed to the extension.”

The original completion date for the Klaus Computing Building was April 17, but was extended to August 21 after delays slowed the project’s progress.

“A lot of different things [caused the extension],” Leroy said. “The issue is very sensitive around the site and around campus because many people in the Tech community wanted to use that building for the fall semester.”

Even though the building construction will be completed in August, the building will not be open for use until October.

“On Aug. 25, the original extended deadline, the building will begin being loaded with furniture and that will continue until Sept. 29,” Leroy said. “During this time, the Audio/Visual and Distance Learning people will be installing equipment in the classrooms.”

According to Leroy, users can begin to occupy the building Oct. 2.

“Initially, it will just be administration offices that will be used because the classrooms will not have any classes scheduled in them,” Leroy said. “Fall classes will not be scheduled for the building.”

“Activities may be scheduled for the spaces during the fall, but the logistics of moving a class in the middle of the semester into the building are too complicated to make it plausible,” Leroy said.

According to Leroy, the building will have a lot of vacant space even after the initial users occupy the building. Leroy anticipates the space being used in some form or fashion.

“When you have that amount of space, someone will use it, but it won’t be officially scheduled,” Leroy said.

The building will be primarily used by the College of Computing; the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Auxiliary Services, which includes Parking and Transportation.

“There will also be a component of the building that will be for campus use,” Leroy said. “There will be a 200 seat auditorium and other classroom space.”

The set deadline is official. The building construction must be completed at that time, and no further delays are foreseen.

“We are meeting on a bi-monthly basis to discuss scheduling and to make sure everything is on track,” Leroy said.

“Small things may slow down progress slightly, such as the fire marshal having a particular issue, but I don’t anticipate any further delays.”

The main element still under construction is the landscaping of the site. The building sits on a four acre lot and the entire site not in the footprint of the building will be landscaped.

Currently, the area between the road and the building is being landscaped.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but they have made major strides,” Leroy said. “The plan is to make sure there are no back doors.”

As an example, Leroy cited the path leading from Ferst Drive to the Architecture Building.

“It feels as if you are approaching the Architecture Building from the back side,” Leroy said.

“We want to eliminate that feeling and once the project is completed none of the pathways will have that feeling.”

The building, once finished, will stand out on campus not only as the newest addition but as a glimpse at the direction the Tech campus will take.

“The building is LEED certified which is a new step for campus and hopefully the Master Plan will follow in the footsteps laid out by our project,” Leroy said.

LEED certification is a sustainable development standard that buildings can earn.

The Management Building in Technology Square is also LEED certified.

“I feel the building will serve as a beautiful addition to campus and as a portal to West Campus,” Leroy said. “

The building sits on a major pedestrian cross axis and will allow for pedestrian traffic to continue to move through the site as it did prior to the building’s construction.”