April 2013 – Community Forum Newsletter

AGENDA of Next Forum

Helicopters over campus
Discussion and Q&A about helicopter flight patterns to and from campus with representatives from Intermountain Life Flight (IHC) and AirMed (U of U)
Updates on campus projects currently under construction:
- Northwest Parking Terrace, 100 South 1455 East (Wolcott Ave.)
- Quinney College of Law, 332 South 1400 East
- Ambulatory Care Center, 98 North Mario Capecchi Drive.
Plan Salt Lake
A vision document will bring together all existing citywide policies to help city leaders and community members make decisions today that will impact tomorrow.
Information Items
New policy for skateboards on campus
Campus construction project updates available for your community council

Parking Terraces

The April 11 Community Forum included a briefing by David Moyes, construction manager in the Department of Commuter Services, on two campus parking structures now in the planning phase— the Northwest Parking Terrace, located immediately west of the Frederick Albert Sutton Building at 100 South 1455 East (Wolcott Ave.); and the Business Loop Parking Terrace. Updated information on the Northwest Terrace is included in a separate article in this newsletter. Both terraces are expected to be completed by next summer.

Increasing the “Porous Membrane”
Salt Lake City Workshop Student Project

Mike Lynch and Alex Roy, students in the Salt Lake City Workshop in the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, College of Architecture + Planning, presented information and slides on their project to examine ways to increase interaction within what they call the “porous membrane”—the west border of campus and the area immediately west, including the surrounding business district and community neighborhoods.

The pair identified several physical actions and ideological concepts the SLC Workshop could consider to help meet the project’s goals, including the following:

Mapping and population detailing
Interactive arts: hydrophone, seating, landscaping
A second-spine connection to Salt Lake City’s downtown area
Preserving historic buildings
Presidents Circle engagement brainstorming: concerts, community gardens, arts, recreation opportunities, and relaxation spots
Complete Streets initiatives
Public transit improvements
Parking alternatives
Streetscape designs
Learning from other communities: festivals, walks, and local grocery stores
Creation of a Neighborhood Business District

“The workshop highlighted the value of community building through strong collective outreach, and by preserving and enhancing the qualities of the area before new projects are built, as ways to improve the relationship and beauty of this unique and special region of the Salt Lake Valley,” said Lynch and Roy.

Learn more about the Salt Lake City Workshop online at http://slcworkshop.com.

Change is Coming
Coordinating the Community Forum and Traffic & Transportation Meetings

Beginning Sept. 12, Community Forums will be held three times each year (instead of quarterly) in order to coordinate with the U’s public Traffic & Transportation meetings, which will take place 10 days later. This will ensure that issues raised at the Community Forum regarding traffic and transportation issues will be addressed in detail at the ensuing T&T meetings with the appropriate people at the table—representatives from UDOT, UTA, Salt Lake City, etc. The T&T meeting agenda will be included in each Community Forum newsletter. (See below.)

In addition, the location of the Community Forums will move to the University Union Building’s Panorama East Room (4^th Floor) and will begin at 5 p.m. to better accommodate those coming from work.

We extend a big thank you to Patti Carpenter and the Natural History Museum of Utah for their generosity in hosting our Community Forum meetings for the past several years. We have enjoyed meeting in their stunning building and have been inspired by the magnificent views of the Salt Lake Valley.

Traffic & Transportation Meeting

Public meeting—all are welcome
Monday, Sept. 23, 2013
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
The Tower at Rice-Eccles Stadium, 6^th Floor

Meeting Agenda

From University of Utah Commuter Services:

Northwest Parking Terrace and
Business Loop Parking Terrace
Parking construction impacts for fall semester
Increase in visitor parking
Special events parking
SAFE Campaign

From Salt Lake City Corporation Transportation Division:

Sugarhouse Streetcar
Federal Heights neighborhood traffic
Salt Lake City Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan
University of Utah to downtown bikeway

For additional information on the T&T meeting, contact Andy Rodgers at andy.rodgers@utah.edu or call her at 801-585-3963.

Community Involvement in the U’s Northwest Parking Terrace

On July 18, the U’s Facilities Management hosted a meeting for representatives from Federal Heights and the Greater Avenues Community Council to discuss a new parking structure planned for campus at 100 South 1455 East (Wolcott Ave.). EDA Architects representatives Eric Migacz, Greg Brooks, and Peter Emerson presented a brief overview of the status of the project and a short history of the parking challenges and opportunities on campus.

In 2012, a Parking Structure Site Options Study examined 13 potential sites for a new 1,000 car parking structure as approved by the Utah State Legislature. Rather than directing 1,000 cars to one single large structure on campus, the study recommended building two smaller parking structures. The Northwest Parking Structure, west of the Frederick Albert Sutton Building on 100 South, was selected as one of the sites because the northwest quadrant of campus is less well-served by parking than other areas. The structure will be no higher than four stories and will provide parking for 340 to 360 cars. Another advantage to the northwest site is the proximity of the structure to help serve event parking at Kingsbury and Gardner halls.

Meeting attendees discussed a variety of concerns and considerations including the current challenges of pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area near the site, questions about lighting options so as not to over-illuminate the area, the attractiveness of the structure, and safety concerns. As this project is in the early stages, the meeting served to identify points to address as the project develops.

EDA noted that the design process for the new parking structure will include an opportunity for representatives from the neighborhood associations to participate in the working

committee meetings. Town Hall presentations, geared for a larger audience, are intended to share the progress of the project with the campus neighbors.

Opportunity for community involvement:

• Additional information on the Northwest Parking Structure will be presented at the Community Forum on Thursday, Sept. 12, 5:00 p.m., University Union’s Panorama East Room (fourth floor).

For more information about this project, please contact Shireen Ghorbani at shireen.ghorbani@fm.utah.edu or call 801-581-6077.

A Brief Look at Campus Construction Projects

The following campus construction projects have been completed:

Spence and Cleone Eccles Football Center

600 South Guardsman Way

Building dedicated Aug. 15

The center is the newest addition to the state-of-the-art Utah athletics complex on Guardsman Way benefiting all U student athletes. The center houses a hydrotherapy room that allows sports medicine staff to use cutting-edge rehabilitation and therapy techniques. It also features a cafeteria, locker room, player lounge, meeting rooms, and team auditoriums.

L. S. Skaggs Pharmacy Research Building

1900 East Medical Drive

Building dedicated April 12

Named in honor of L. S. “Sam” Skaggs, the building stands as a tribute to his dedication to scientific discovery. The atrium, laboratories, and amphitheater foster an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration among faculty, students, and staff. The Utah Poison Control Center occupies a secure call center on the fourth floor.

Thatcher Chemistry Building

315 South 1400 East

Building dedicated March 13

Located adjacent to the Henry Eyring Chemistry Building, the five-story structure provides space for much-needed research labs for graduate students who will shape the future of critical chemistry disciplines. The second level of the building houses the Curie Club, which supports women in science and provides space to host activities ranging from undergraduate experiments to informal outreach to school children.

The following campus construction projects are currently under way:

Kennecott Renovation

1495 East 100 South

Completion date: Fall 2013 (first phase)

The renovation and expansion include improving the south wing’s office and lab space, seismic retrofitting, a new stair tower and elevator, and a new chiller and boiler plant.

Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Building

1720 Central Campus Drive

Completion date: December 2013

As the new home of the College of Education and the Tanner Dance Program, the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Complex will create the nation’s premier academic hub of multidisciplinary collaboration for education, the arts, and science.

Northwest Parking Terrace

West of the Sutton Building at 100 South and 1455 East (Wolcott Ave.)

Completion date: Summer 2014

The terrace will feature about 350 stalls and serve the northwest quadrant of campus, including performance venues such as Kingsbury and Gardner halls.

Business Loop Parking Terrace

1700 Campus Center Drive

Completion date: Summer 2014

The terrace will have at least 800 stalls and will serve the Jon M. Huntsman Center and surrounding areas.

Both parking structures will be architecturally designed for visual fit with the surrounding buildings.

Ambulatory Care Complex

98 North Mario Capecchi Drive

Completion date: Fall 2014 (first phase); 2024 (second phase).

This joint project between the U and Primary Children’s Medical Center will be a clinic facility for same-day procedures, and administrative offices for PCMC and U of U Hospitals and Clinics. The first phase includes the clinical building for PCMC, and parking for both PCMC and UUHC with a capacity of about 1,400 stalls. The second phase will include the clinic building for UUHC.

George S. Eccles Student Life Center

1836 East Ballif Road

Completion date: December 2014

The center will be a cornerstone of campus activity and will include state-of-the-art facilities for recreation, fitness, and social activities. The center will be open year round, seven days a week, 16 to 18 hours per day. The Outdoor Recreation Program, Campus Recreation Services offices, and intramural sports headquarters will be relocated to the center.

S.J. Quinney College of Law

380 South 1400 East

Completion date: 2014-2015 academic year

The new law school building will feature teaching, gathering, moot court, and seminar spaces as well as a rooftop garden and public spaces. It also will reunite the law library with the school.

Ray & Tye Noorda Oral Health Sciences Building

Wakara Way in Research Park

Completion date: December 2014

The three-story School of Dentistry building will feature student, clinic, lab, teaching, and administrative space, and will have an adjacent multi-level parking structure.

Critical Infrastructure Upgrade (Electrical)

Throughout campus

In January 2013 a sizable upgrade to electrical infrastructure and substations began. Work will continue into 2014. The project includes a crucial upgrade to provide modern, safe, and reliable electrical service to campus buildings.

For additional details on all campus construction projects, visit www.facilities.utah.edu and click on “Projects.”

You’re invited! Block U Party

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 12, to join Utah fans, friends, neighbors, and families for the first-ever Block U Party, and get pumped up for the big Utah vs. Stanford football game later that day. Bring the whole gang to campus three hours prior to kick-off (game time will not be known until early October). There will be something for all ages, including live music, food, college tents, the U Band, the Muss and games and activities for the kids. Even if you are not going to the stadium, it’s a cool way to celebrate all things U and have a great time.

For more information, contact Whit Hollis, director, University Union, at whollis@union.utah.edu or 801-581-2048.

@theU

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