The Fine Arts Center was revamped with new brick around most of the outside, but there’s still more work to be done. Photo by Ethan Pellegrino.
The University of Rhode Island’s Fine Arts Center (FAC) is continuing with the planning of phase two, which can begin once passed on a Rhode Island state-wide referendum in the future.
According to Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Nedra Reynolds, who has been part of weekly construction team meetings since May 2019, there are two construction phases the FAC will go through. Phase one, which has been underway since last spring, encompases both the exterior and interior of the FAC. Phase two will be decided on in a state-wide referendum. It would involve reconstruction of certain wings of the building.
In phase one, the most visible work is on the exterior, which involves adding brick to specific wings of the outside of the building. Reynolds said that the construction team stopped work on the exterior brick for the winter and are starting up again in the spring to complete the project.
Students are starting to notice the building’s new updated look as construction winds down until the new year.
“The Fine Arts Center already looks so much better,” senior Julia Nelson said. “Even though I will have graduated by the time the renovations are over, I’m happy knowing that students in upcoming years will get to work in a new environment conducive to learning and working on their creative endeavors.”
While the interior work that has been underway has been more inconspicuous, it has been crucial for the long-term quality of the building.
“It’s not visible because a lot of it has been literally under the floor or up in the ceiling,” Reynolds said.
One of the most significant changes to the building, according to Reynolds, is the addition of a new drainage system at the building’s foundation which diverts a stream of water to a new path. The water used to run directly under the building.
“There [have] been a lot of changes to the building and one of the most significant ones is probably that it has always been a very damp building, a lot of mildew, things like that,” Reynolds said. “It’s going to be a much drier building and of course, more long lasting.”
In addition to the drainage work, which will preserve the interior and exterior, new windows and doors will be added, which will allow more light into the building.
Phase two of the FAC’s construction will go before Rhode Island voters for approval in the upcoming general election before construction can begin.
“In November of 2020, when we have the presidential election, there will be on the Rhode Island ballot a bond for phase two of the Fine Arts Center of URI which is going to be approximately $50 million,” Reynolds said. “With the approval by the voters of that bond issue, we can go forward with phase two.”
According to Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Nedra Reynolds, who has been part of weekly construction team meetings since May 2019, there are two construction phases the FAC will go through. Phase one, which has been underway since last spring, encompases both the exterior and interior of the FAC. Phase two will be decided on in a state-wide referendum. It would involve reconstruction of certain wings of the building.
In phase one, the most visible work is on the exterior, which involves adding brick to specific wings of the outside of the building. Reynolds said that the construction team stopped work on the exterior brick for the winter and are starting up again in the spring to complete the project.
Students are starting to notice the building’s new updated look as construction winds down until the new year.
“The Fine Arts Center already looks so much better,” senior Julia Nelson said. “Even though I will have graduated by the time the renovations are over, I’m happy knowing that students in upcoming years will get to work in a new environment conducive to learning and working on their creative endeavors.”
While the interior work that has been underway has been more inconspicuous, it has been crucial for the long-term quality of the building.
“It’s not visible because a lot of it has been literally under the floor or up in the ceiling,” Reynolds said.
One of the most significant changes to the building, according to Reynolds, is the addition of a new drainage system at the building’s foundation which diverts a stream of water to a new path. The water used to run directly under the building.
“There [have] been a lot of changes to the building and one of the most significant ones is probably that it has always been a very damp building, a lot of mildew, things like that,” Reynolds said. “It’s going to be a much drier building and of course, more long lasting.”
In addition to the drainage work, which will preserve the interior and exterior, new windows and doors will be added, which will allow more light into the building.
Phase two of the FAC’s construction will go before Rhode Island voters for approval in the upcoming general election before construction can begin.
“In November of 2020, when we have the presidential election, there will be on the Rhode Island ballot a bond for phase two of the Fine Arts Center of URI which is going to be approximately $50 million,” Reynolds said. “With the approval by the voters of that bond issue, we can go forward with phase two.”