Building renovation to increase classroom, office space

Luis Jimenez/ Summer Reporter EXPANSION: The exterior of the David Pfendler Hall of Agriculture. The building will undergo renovations and have a 25,000 square-foot addition constructed on the south end.

By Luis Jiménez
Summer Reporter

The University's project to restore and expand the David Pfendler Hall of Agriculture, will allow the forestry and natural resources department to integrate under one roof and provide more space to its students and staff.

The University plans to spend $12 million to restore the 35,000-square-foot building and add a 25,000-square-foot addition to the south part. Another $2 million is being sought from alumni.

The renovation plans also include the construction of a physical bridge connecting Whistler and Pfendler Hall — formerly known as Entomology Hall and Agricultural Hall.

Mike Warden, architect for the facilities planning office and manager for the renovation project, said the building is in structurally great condition, however, its mechanical and electrical components are inadequate and in need of upgrade. He said the renovations would bring these aspects up to date and provide air-conditioning to the building.

The now vacant, 100-year-old building — the second oldest on campus — was shut down two years ago because of safety concerns.

Warden said the University had considered replacing the building a few years ago, but in the end, the University believed the best option was to restore it, thus preserving its historic value.

Dennis LeMaster, professor and head of the forestry and natural resources department, said the renovation and expansion will provide updated classrooms for students and will relieve the lack of non-instructional space and graduate student office space.

"(This project) is very beneficial for the department," said LeMaster. "There's a chronic shortage of non-instructional laboratory space, graduate student office space and this will address it in a substantial way."

LeMaster said that for the courses they offer in management and quantitative sciences, there would be an instructional laboratory with its accompanying computer laboratory; both will be state-of-the-art. These laboratories were designed for students taking courses related to wildlife and natural resource management.

In addition, LeMaster said, there would be a specialized classroom for courses focused on dendrology and wildlife habitat and a 30-student general-purpose classroom, which could be used by all the students.

Warden also said the renovations would provide more classroom space for forestry students and will add one general-purpose classroom that would relieve the need for more classrooms. The University, he said, due to the increase in the size of the student body, is experiencing a need for more classrooms.

Regarding the bridge connecting Whistler Hall and Pfendler Hall, LeMaster said it will help integrate the department by connecting different laboratory programs such as the Hardwood Tree Improvement Research Center, which is "unique in the world."

Warden said the project is still in the design and development phase. He said the plan would go on bid in the late fall and begin construction in December. The restoration is expected to be completed by the start of fall classes, 2003.

Warden also said the School of Agriculture's alumni and development offices, which are currently in the Agricultural Administration building, will be relocated to Pfendler Hall.

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