Sproul construction delayed

Students living in Sproul Hall do not need an alarm clock in
order to wake up in the morning. The sounds of jackhammers do it
for them.

However, Sproul Hall residents will need to set their clock
radios shortly, as construction that began in December 2002 is in
its final phases.

Jack Gibbons, associate director of the Office of Residential
Life, said the construction, which will provide more services to
residents, is occurring in three phases.

The first phase of construction was mostly completed over winter
break and involved the relocation of the Housing Administration
office from the Rieber Hall parking lot to the first floor of
Sproul Hall. Though it is not yet complete, “it’s done
satisfactorily to the point where it can be occupied,”
Gibbons said.

The phase was prioritized because the construction of Sproul
needed to coincide with Rieber Hall’s construction schedule,
specifically the demolition of the Housing Administration
building.

The second phase is the completion of the first floor common
area. This area will include a new front desk, a new lobby, a study
lounge and a recreation room.

The third phase is the completion of Bruin Café, which will
serve sandwiches, smoothies and coffee. Students will be able to
swipe their BruinCards at this restaurant as part of their meal
plans.

For these final two phases, there are no specific completion
deadlines, Gibbons said.

Gibbons added that residents have not been promised a completion
date.

Sproul Hall residents Melissa Kamenjarin, a second-year history
student, and Barbara Lau, a second-year marine biology student,
said they heard the construction would be completed by winter
quarter.

“We were given a date of winter 2004 that (the
construction) would be finished. But I don’t listen to them
anymore,” Lau said.