Students returning to the University of Tampa this semester may have noticed a number of new building projects being undertaken across campus. To further investigate these exciting and wide-spread expansions to school facilities, The Minaret turned to Richard Ogorek, Vice President for Administration and Finance, and Charles Jackson, project manager of renovations and construction of Sodexo Facilities Management.
They revealed that some of the most notable renovations to existing structures now in progress are centered around the Martinez Sports Center. Extensive interior remodeling of the Health Science and Human Performance corner will be accompanied by the structural addition of an entire second level. This undertaking is on schedule to be completed during the winter break. It will be closely followed by the construction of a second facility located in the opposite corner of the building intended to better accommodate the needs of UT’s athletes.
To support the expanded Martinez Center as well as provide heightened comfort to students living on campus, the construction of a regional chiller plant will also soon be underway. Once completed it will help supply much needed air conditioning to the southern portion of campus.
Also helping to facilitate these sizable construction projects is the extensive restructuring of the electrical system supplying the university.
While UT is unwilling to reveal the exact cost of these renovations, Ogorek acknowledged that monetary support from benefactors both named and anonymous as well as donations collected through various fundraisers has been received. He described the process of preemptive problem-solving by which the University of Tampa decides upon the allocation of these funds to better on-campus student life.
“The management committee considers program growth and space requirements to address shortfalls before they become problems,” Ogorek said. “Examples of the process include the recently opened Dickey Health and Wellness Center, the new Nursing Skills Center in Walker Hall, the Science Annex at the Cass Building and the Health Science Human Performance project that remains underway.”
Despite the obvious care taken by the administration to expand according to the needs of the university, actual student reception of the new building projects this semester, particularly of the additions to the Martinez Center, remains mixed.
“Any campus expansion is for the best,” voiced UT sophomore Joe Rucco, “regardless of how many people make use of the Martinez Center, the renovation is a good sign that the university is continuing to flourish and grow.”
Matthew Weinburg, a junior and Psychology major, echoed others in expressing his ambivalence toward the expansion of the sports facility.
“It’s not a misuse of money if enough students are involved in athletics,” Weinburg asserted, “I just wonder if the creation of new residence halls or dining options wouldn’t be more beneficial to life on campus.”
Although UT students hold no seats in UT buildings committees, Ogorek explained that they are allowed a more indirect form of participation in decisions affecting university expansion.
“When a facility is uniquely designed for the support of UT student life, the Dean of Students is engaged in the facility programming prior to the design and appropriate representatives from the student body may be selected for participation in focus groups or other forms of input.”
Jeffrey Palmer can be reached at jeffrey.palmer@spartans.ut.edu.