GX2 construction nears completion

After four months of construction in the area between the new Hodson Hall, Garland Hall, Latrobe and Gilman, the second phase of the Homewood campus plan, or Great Excavations 2 (GX2), is expected to be completed by mid-September.

The original GX2 plan anticipated a completion date of mid-October. Due to unexpectedly scarce rainfall this summer, delays were minimal and construction proceeded ahead-of-schedule. In contrast, the first GX project, which renovated areas between the North Gate near the Athletic Center to the Beach and Lower Quad, faced major rain delays in 2000 and 2001.

The GX2 project extends the design and philosophy of the first GX, replacing asphalt with bricks and marble accents and adding extensive landscaping. According to the GX2 Web site, the phi losophy of the Homewood campus plan is to "make the core areas of Homewood safer, more pedestrian-friendly and much more attractive? In general, the idea is to make Homewood more like a campus and less like a freeway."

According to Director of Planning and Project Development Stephen Campbell, a key consideration in the GX2 project was linking the new Hodson Hall to the main campus and providing "pedestrian-linkage" to the future "Garland Quad," which is to be the site for future building expansion.

Some changes over the summer months include a new retaining wall surrounding Garland, a new entrance to Levering and a new handicapped ramp on Latrobe. The new brick pedestrian walkways echo those of the Upper and Lower Quads, and the asphalt drive between Latrobe and Levering has been removed.

In addition to the surface work of tearing out asphalt, laying bricks and planting trees and shrubs, underground installation of utilities, such as storm water management systems and an electric conduit for streetlights, was extensive.

Closures and detours were commonplace throughout the summer. Both pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic were constantly diverted, requiring major changes in shipping and receiving. According to Director of Purchasing Paul Beyer, the changes have gone smoothly. An offsite mail center was opened on 31st Street and Remington Avenue, and packages received there are brought to campus twice a day.

Due to the current drought restrictions in the area, some of the planting will be postponed until spring 2003.