Regents Approve $42 Million in Projects

Steps toward construction and renovation projects totaling more than $42 million were approved for Sam Houston State University Friday by the university's board of regents.

• The two biggest ticket items on the construction agenda were design contracts for a $20 million performing arts center and a $15 million student apartment complex. Both require additional action by the Texas higher education coordinating board. Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects of Houston was selected to design the performing arts center. With an estimated 75,000 square feet, it will include a concert hall, an adjoining recital hall, rehearsal halls, practice rooms for individuals and ensembles, classrooms, dance studios, dressing rooms, a scene and lighting shop, a computer lab for scene design and dance choreography, a recording studio, and office space for faculty and staff.
• PDG Architects of Houston was selected to design the 400-bed student apartment complex, which will be built on the southeastern edge of the campus. The Gintz family apartments and Aydelotte and McCray houses, which have a present capacity of 124, are in poor condition because of age and will be removed. The university was authorized to take bids for the removal of those facilities at a cost of up to $240,000.
• Award of a contract to Dudley Construction, Ltd. of College Station for construction of a $3.3 million visitor and alumni center, with construction to begin this spring and completion in about a year.
• Employment of Land Design Studio of Austin for a $917,000 phase one design of a recreational area for students, faculty and staff on a 345-acre tract of land along the Trinity River;
• Award of a contract to Collier Construction, Inc. of Brenham for a $900,000 renovation of the Teacher Education Center's first floor to provide space for the Language, Literacy and Special Populations program;
• Employment of Lunce Hu Architects, Inc. of Houston to design elevators for the Bowers Stadium press box, to bring it into compliance with accessibility standards, with an estimated cost of $725,000;
• Award of a contract with Dabhi Engineering Associates of Katy to design electrical and air conditioning modifications to Belvin Hall, with an estimated cost of $550,000;
• Award of a contact to the W. A. Willis Company, Inc. of Austin to replace the roofs on the Lee Drain Building and a portion of the Evans building, at a cost not to exceed $455,000;
• Approval of preliminary plans submitted by Dabhi Engineering for an emergency generator to protect university computer equipment in Academic Building 1, with a project cost of $350,000.