An important catalyst in Polytechnic's transformation from Air Force base to self-sustaining college started with the raising of a fence.
Workers started lifting the fence Monday in what is one of the first steps toward demolition of the campus' dining hall facility. It is expected to take two weeks to demolish.
In addition to demolition, and before any new construction begins, some other campus-altering preparations are slated to take place within the next couple months.
Students and staff may have to change the routes they use to get to class due to the construction.
On Dec. 1, workers are expected to remove asbestos from the dean's office in the Science and Technology Building.
Demolition of the building will follow after Dec. 15 and will take another two weeks. A surrogate office will be provided for the dean in Sutton Hall.
Additionally, the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building III, completed in December 2005, will house the Division of Computer Studies in the interim, which moved from its past space in the old technology building.
Construction of instructional buildings for faculty and staff offices, classrooms and teaching laboratories is anticipated to start Jan. 1 and last until June the next year.
In January, Lot 37, with the exception of the Tech II portion, will also be worked on for a short period of time.
Other parking lot restrictions that will occur will include lots like 32 (north of the Agribusiness Center), 41 (east of Sutton and Wanner halls) and 31 (north of the Engineering Studio).
Lots 12, 13, 43, 46 and 48 will remain available to students and staff at Polytechnic.
Construction will be geared toward building the new facilities for which Gov. Janet Napolitano and the state Legislature allocated funds.
David Schwalm, ASU vice provost of academic programs and services, said he had a certain amount of relief over that decision.
"We also are at maximum utilization of our classrooms, and we need more specialized classrooms to serve some of our programs, like our new engineering program," Schwalm said.
While construction will take more than a year, asphalt will be recycled and used for new parking lots, which is an example of the effort to conserve resources, according to a Polytechnic press release.
Reach the reporter at marc.young@asu.edu
