(August 20, 2018) – The annual allocation of Permanent University Fund (PUF) bond proceeds for Library, Equipment, Repair, and Rehabilitation (LERR) projects was approved by the University of Texas System Board of Regents during their August 9-10, 2018 meeting. UTSA will receive $2.52 million through this allocation, second only to UT Austin in the amount of LERR funds awarded this year. These projects will provide much-needed enhancements in a variety of areas including: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, furniture replacement, restroom renovations, and computer replacements. The following is a summary of the projects approved for funding with LERR funds.
ADA compliance improvements for the Veterans Center and other areas of the university including sidewalks, crosswalks, sealcoating, curb ramps, handrails, and guardrails to make pedestrian navigation safe and accessible for veterans, students, staff, faculty, and visitors with physical limitations. This project will improve accessibility and pedestrian conditions as identified and prioritized by a 2016 ADA study on UTSA Main Campus.
Student Collaboration Space Renovations in the Flawn Sciences Building resulting from a student-led effort. The Flawn Sciences Building is UTSA’s oldest core science teaching building. The building is severely deficient in student study and collaboration spaces. This project will remove hallway cubicles and install furniture and collaborative writing surfaces, improve lighting, and provide electrical power and data connections to create both individual study and group collaboration spaces.
Restroom Expansion and Renovation in the John Peace Library (JPL), one of the original main buildings constructed at UTSA. Increased university enrollment, new food venues, and interior upgrades to the building have increased its popularity with students putting more demand on restroom facilities. This project will expand and modernize the restroom facilities on the fourth floor of the JPL, providing much needed relief to the students who often must wait to use the facilities, especially during peak times like exam finals week.
Replace computer equipment in classrooms and computer labs. This project will upgrade the 200 classroom systems and hot swaps in the Provost owned classrooms, upgrade 236 computing lab desktop computers for the Student Computing Service JPL computing lab, and upgrade 45 desktop computers for the Downtown Architecture Computer Classrooms to help eliminate the current issues with failing hardware and keeping the computers on par with today’s multimedia needs.
Facilities staff will manage design and construction of the construction projects while computer upgrades will be handled directly by each department. Roadrunners should see the results of these projects in the near future as they will be planned and executed in the months ahead.
Student collaboration space will be added to the Flawn Sciences Building with LERR funding