The construction of the Nexus, Barnard’s new student center, is progressing as planned and is on track to be completed by the start of the 2009-2010 academic year, administrators say.
Last week, according to Barnard’s official Nexus Web site, workers installed underground utilities, prepared and poured slab material, and began construction of the building’s steel structure. Work on the structure continued this week.
This stage marks an important transition from preparation to actual construction. Previous stages included demolition of the old student center, McIntosh, and excavation of underlying rock to clear space for the foundation and lower levels of the Nexus. The creation of the “steel superstructure,” as described on the Nexus Web site, is the first step in constructing the building itself.
The steel frame should be up by this summer, at which point workers will start building walls and a glass façade. Outer construction should be complete by the end of 2008, and the next and last step will be interior construction.
Last October, Barnard reported that construction was behind schedule. Today, officials say they have caught up.
“We are still on target for opening the building in fall 2009,” said Lisa Gamsu, vice president of administration.
After the steel structure is completed, the building will be enclosed by a curtain wall, Gamsu said, adding, “They say they will finish in time for us to open as we expected in the fall [of 2009].”
Inside the construction area, located between Altschul and Milbank Hall and surrounded by a poster- and spray paint-covered wall, is a huge pit, evened out into a deep, sharp square. From above, little figures are visible scuttling around far below the sidewalk and the rest of campus, while up at ground level, additional workers transport equipment to and from vans.
Last fall, officials were still searching for a major donor to fund the multi-million dollar project and claim the building as his or her namesake. While there is still no word on whether the school has found a buyer for the building’s naming rights, the college has raised a total of $37 million to date from alumnae, parents, and others, according to Cameran Mason, vice president for development and alumnae affairs. Their goal is $45 million.
“We are confident that we’ll hit our goal in the near future, but I’m not sure exactly when,” Mason said.
maggie.astor@columbiaspectator.com