Smith-Hutson: The people behind the building

The Houstonian (Mar. 23) touches upon the professional building named for Smith and Hutson:

SHSU Under SGA Scrutiny During ADA Compliance Investigation

The [Nov. 5] edition of the Houstonian says the SHSU Student Government Association (SGA) is investigating the university’s alleged noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on campus:

Active Shooter Drills On SHSU Campus Today

From the Huntsville Item:

Today at 1 p.m., Walker County law enforcement agencies along with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General will participate in the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) on the SHSU campus.

Members of the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville and Sam Houston State police departments and the OIG will receive training on how to respond to a number of active shooter situations through simulated, live-action drills.

The ALERRT Center at Texas State University-San Marcos was established in 2002 following the deadly mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, where two teenagers murdered 12 of their fellow students and one teacher in 1999.

The program’s curriculum has become the standard that law enforcement agencies around the country use to train for active shooter emergencies.

For the past 11 years, ALERRT has used more than $27 million in state and federal grant funding to train more than 40,000 law enforcement officers.

Today’s training session will be taught by veteran Special Weapons and Tactics team specialists with experience in active shooter situations and training.

The drills will be conducted at the Smith-Hutson Building and the Spivey House Residence Hall on the SHSU campus.

Fire Reported at Business Building

Reports from the Item on the fire at the Smith-Hutson Business Administration Building:

Fire alarms and smoke rising from a small construction accident caused the evacuation of a Sam Houston State University building Thursday, officials said. The Smith-Hutson building closed due to a smoldering panel that fell through its ceiling. The estimated cost of the minor damage is not available at this time. At approximately 3:10 p.m., officials said they received a call reporting smoke on the third floor and fire alarms going off in the building. Contractors had been working on the roof of the building when the panel caught fire and dropped through the roofing level between the new building and the old building cross over, officials said.

In Memoriam: Ronald Mafrige

Alumnus and campus promoter Ronald Mafrige died Sunday, August 14 in Houston. He was 73.

Houstonian: Smith-Hutson addition dedicated

From the Houstonian:

For a year and a half, the sounds of hammering and the smoldering smell of tar flooded the Mall area, all for the sake of the expansion of the Smith-Hutson building. The construction, now complete, yielded a large addition to the College of Business building and the university held a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday.

"I'd say about 300 [people attended]," Margaret Quarles, senior assistant to Dean Randal D. Lewis said, "We had a great turnout. The chancellor spoke and Dean Lewis gave us an introduction. Sponsors were given a brass key, symbolizing their contribution to education. Attendees received a commemorative coin that was minted especially for the occasion."

The project cost $8.3 million to build and doubled the size of the building, adding on 4,700 feet. The project added 900 additional classroom seats, 15 new classes, a new auditorium, 39 faculty offices, 2 department office suites, golf club learning lab, mailroom facilities and additional storage.

Houstonian: COBA lunch discusses new building

From the Houstonian:

The College of Business Administration recently hosted its fall 2004 Student Leader Luncheon in the Lowman Student Center. Some topics covered were occupancy of the Smith-Hudson Building addition, and the upcoming college Career Fair.

Dean of the College of Business Administration Dr. R. Dean Lewis hosted the luncheon. Three officers of COBA were invited to attend. Following a buffet lunch and introductions, the Dean began to discuss current issues and trends that were impacting the college and its future. His first topic was concerning the addition of the Smith-Hudson Building.

"The Smith-Hudson building is expected to be completed by February and we will gradually begin occupying it through spring. There may be a possibility of classes being held there in the summer, and there will definitely be classes in the fall 2005," [Margaret Quarles, Senior Assistant to the Dean] said.

Regents approve reorganization, rate increases

Information from the recent Board of Regents meeting in today’s Houstonian:

From the Houstonian:

In business relating to facilities, the regents authorized an approval process for the $1.6 million renovation of the Estill Hall dormitory that will allow work to begin in May with completion prior to the 2005 spring semester. The board's chairman and either vice chairman or local committee chairman were authorized to award the construction contract, which is usually done by the board as a whole. Design work was not completed in time for that to happen at this week's meeting.

The board did award a contract to Bartlett Cocke General Contractors of San Antonio for an $18 million renovation to the present Farrington Building and construction of a new 61,732-square-foot science building. The new facility will house the chemistry and forensic science programs, while physics will remain in the Farrington Building. Completion is expected by late spring of 2005.

Also approved was the addition of a $1.2 million auditorium for the Smith-Hutson Business Building expansion. A planned auditorium was eliminated from the bidding process when it was thought that it would be too costly. After lower than expected bids were received, it was determined that the auditorium could be included.

Today@Sam: COBA Breaks New Ground

Sam Houston State University's College of Business Administration broke ground Jan. 27 on an $8.3 million expansion of the Smith-Hutson Business Building. Representatives of the university's board of regents, the architects and contractors, and university officials, dug in to officially kick off the project scheduled for completion in May 2005.

College to break new ground

The College of Business Administration breaks ground on the expansion to the Smith-Hutson Business Building, notes today’s Houstonian:

The $8.3 million 47,475 square feet structure will add an auditorium, 15 classrooms, 39 faculty offices and two departmental suites to current space. R. Dean Lewis, dean of the College of Business Administration, said the new space scheduled for completion in May 2005 "will match our strong academic program, improve the quality of the educational experience for our students and deliver growth capabilities we currently do not have."

Behind the Building: Smith-Hutson Business Administration Building

Here is the second in the Houstonian’s series about the buildings on campus; this week it’s the Smith-Hutson Business Administration Building.

Today@Sam: President Discusses Campus Progress and Plans

Sam Houston State University President James Gaertner outlined last year's progress and talked about future plans at the university's general faculty and staff meeting on Tuesday morning in Killinger Auditorium.

He also announced plans for campus improvements that are currently in various stages of approval. Among those improvements are a renovation of the Farrington Building which houses chemistry and physics, the construction of a 550-bed residence facility near Bowers Stadium, an addition to the Health and Kinesiology Building which would include a swimming pool, an addition to the Smith-Hutson Building, the construction of a dining facility on the south side of campus, enlargement of the Teacher Education Center, construction of new baseball and softball facilities to include dressing areas, the addition of a three-level parking structure with 450 spaces, upgrading exterior and interior signage, and the construction of a campus visitor's center which would feature state-of-the-art technology.

Gaertner also addressed the proposal to rebuild Old Main, the long-standing university landmark which was destroyed by fire in 1982.

"At this time, I will say that the idea is under serious consideration," Gaertner said. "It would be a wonderful lead item in a capital campaign, and I'm currently listening to comments and concerns that are being made about the idea," he said. "Those who have questioned the feasibility of rebuilding Old Main are concerned that the building would not be identical to the original structure," Gaertner explained. "There are also concerns that the new building would overshadow Austin Hall, which many consider as the authentic historic building on campus," he said. Gaertner said that he had spoken with architects and the general idea is to rebuild with an exterior that is identical to the original building, and have a modern interior for use as an educational facility.

Tougher Admission Standards Among Regents Actions

Tougher admission standards, a new name for the Department of Public Communication, and new fees relating to library use, correspondence courses and degree programs and majors offered online were among the measures approved Friday for Sam Houston State University by the Board of Regents:

• Approved contracts and purchase orders of $180,000 for renovation of the University Theater Center.
• $125,000 to replace the Sam Houston Memorial Museum roof, and $145,000 to replace auditorium seating in the Beto Criminal Justice Center.
• Approved preliminary plans for a $285,000 renovation of the Smith-Hutson Business Building.
• Approved demolition of Hathorn House, a two-story residence hall built in 1961, because of foundation settling and damage.