Edited by Adolfo Pesquera

College Station (Brazos Co.) – The board of regents for the Texas A&M University System on Wednesday approved $226 million in capital projects for seven projects on the College Station campus.

An abridged version of the approved projects are described below based on briefing materials from the board of regents meeting.

Center for Infrastructure Renewal Project – $73 million

Board Action:

1. Approve the project scope and budget.
2. Appropriate $73,000,000 for construction services and related project costs and revert previous appropriations to the source account.
3. Approve construction of the CIR Project for the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES).

SCOPE of Project:

The facility will contain collaborative, multi-use spaces and include shared facilities that support interdisciplinary engineering research teams. In particular, the high bay and mid bay spaces (at ~60’ and 40’ high respectively) will support research teams from many departments. The facility will also include several specialized laboratories conducting cutting-edge research in smart grid technology, connected vehicle sensors and corrosion sciences.

The facility will be located at the Riverside Campus, near State Highway 21, creating a unique destination for faculty and showcase the depth and diversity of research at the university.

The university has launched an effort to have 25,000 engineering students by the year 2025 – an initiative titled “25 by 25.” This initiative is prompting a physical space reallocation and expansion effort. Existing engineering research space on main campus will mostly be moved elsewhere to other campus locations to make way for an expansion of academic space dedicated to the College of Engineering. As part of this effort, the large academic engineering facility on main campus called the Zachry Building is undergoing a substantial renovation and expansion – a project called the “Engineering Education Complex” (EEC). A feature outdoor green open space is envisioned on the south end of the Zachry Building prompting the demolition of three engineering research facilities: the McNew Laboratory, the Concrete Materials Laboratory, and the high-bay space connected to Wisenbaker Engineering Building.

The CIR is envisioned as a state-of-the-art engineering research facility that houses interdisciplinary researchers dedicated to improving the nation’s infrastructure. The facility will bring together multiple research arms of the university including the College of Engineering, TEES and TTI. The facility will also host professional development/training.

The CIR Project A/E team is charged with the responsibility of establishing the final locations, configuration, and layout taking into consideration site conditions and requirements established in this program.

All construction in this project shall meet all applicable codes and standards identified within the Facility Design Guidelines including National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Codes and Texas Accessibility Standards.

Construction on this project is scheduled to start in September 2016 with substantial completion scheduled for November 2017.

Engineering Education Complex Project – $56.8 million

Background and Prior Actions: The Engineering Education Complex (EEC) Project was included as an approved project on the FY 2015-FY 2019 A&M System Capital Plan for $137,000,000, and approved on the FY 2016-FY 2020 A&M System Capital Plan approved by the Board at the September 2015 meeting for $168,900,000.

Board Action:

1. Approve the revised project scope and budget.
2. Appropriate $56,769,000 additional funding for construction services and related project costs.
3. Approve for construction the additional work scope outlined in this agenda item for the EEC at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M).

SCOPE of Project:

Due to the limits of the original project budget, several areas of the building were designed only to be shelled for future completion. With this additional funding, the building will be completed and usable from Day 1, with the exception of two labs and lab support areas on the 3rd floor.

The nuclear reactor was originally planned to remain in the building, and steps have been taken to protect and keep operational during construction. However, the College of Engineering (COE) has been able to gain approval to decommission the reactor, thus freeing space in the EEC for other uses.

The roof garden was likewise planned for during the design of this project, but was deemed a lower priority than other spaces so was “shelled”. With this feature, gathering for public events will be possible.

Finally, the Engineering Quad was originally being planned as a minor project, but including it in the EEC project will provide better coordination of this work with the new work already being done to the site for EEC.

The existing scope of the EEC Project completely renovates the existing 350,000 gross square foot Zachry Education Center and adds approximately 200,000 gross square feet. The resulting facility will encompass 550,000 square feet of space dedicated solely to undergraduate education. This scope included 114,000 square feet of shelled space.

The requested increase to the scope does several things:

• Builds out the shelled space on Floors 4 and 5. (Note: 10,090 SF of labs on Level 3 remain shell; the remainder of the building will be built out).
• Constructs a green roof above the third floor to accommodate functions.
• Constructs a green space south of the main entrance to EEC. This provides the Engineering District with an outdoor gathering space and begins to create the Engineering identity. Three buildings will be razed as part of this project.
• Provides a wayfinding signage for the EEC.
• Provides funding for the COE to remove and relocate the nuclear reactor currently operating in this facility, allowing this space to be reclaimed for educational space.
• Builds out a food service area to be operated by Starbucks.
• Provides additional funding for enhanced Audio/Visual equipment for the original three floors.

Construction on this project started in March 2015 with substantial completion currently scheduled for December 2017. This additional scope extends the substantial completion date to March 2018.

Aggie Track & Field Stadium Project – $39.8 million

Board Action:

1. Amend the approved FY 2016-FY 2020 Texas A&M University System Capital Plan to add the Aggie Track & Field Stadium Project for Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) with an FY 2016 start date and a total planning amount of $39,800,000.
2. Approve the project scope and budget.
3. Appropriate $39,800,000 for pre-construction and construction services and related project costs.
4. Approve construction of the Aggie Track & Field Stadium at Texas A&M with a total project budget of $39,800,000.

SCOPE of Project:

The Aggie Track & Field Stadium Project is planned for a site located on the Texas A&M campus, at the intersection of George Bush Drive and Penberthy Road, adjacent to the existing Anderson Track & Field Complex. This site is currently occupied by recreational sports playing fields which will be relocated through a separate project.

The track and field stadium will be built to host track and field events ranging from high school, regional, and collegiate track meets, and championship and Olympic qualifier track meets. The facility has prominent frontage on George Bush Drive. The Aggie Track & Field Stadium Project is in close proximity to other major Texas A&M sports facilities such as the proposed new softball stadium, Kyle Field, Blue Bell Park and Reed Arena, with significant parking nearby within a reasonable walking distance.

The primary components of the stadium structure are the seating bowl, an elevated concourse that wraps around two sides of the track, an additional level of press, office and hospitality spaces on the west side, and an iconic, curving canopy that shades the seating bowl.

The new track facility will consist of 1) Spectator Facilities such as ticketing, circulation space, seating, concessions, merchandise sales, and restrooms, 2) Team Facilities such as player locker rooms, players’ lounge, meeting rooms, training rooms, treatment rooms, storage space, and coaches’ offices, 3) Event Facilities such as competition areas, drug testing, weigh-in, impound, and storage rooms, and 4) Media Facilities including broadcast compound, press box, and interview areas.

The project will require site preparation, utility extensions, walkways, service access and landscaping. The existing track facility will remain and be updated with a state-of-the-art surface and used for practice and competition throwing events. The current schedule calls for substantial completion of the Aggie Track & Field Stadium Project in December 2017.

Aggie Softball Stadium Project – $28.6 million

Board Action:

1. Amend the approved FY 2016-FY 2020 Texas A&M University System Capital Plan to add the Aggie Softball Stadium Project for Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) with an FY 2016 start date and a total planning amount of $28,640,000.
2. Approve the project scope and budget.
3. Appropriate $28,640,000 for pre-construction services and related project costs.
4. Approve construction of the Aggie Softball Stadium at Texas A&M with a total project budget of $28,640,000.

SCOPE of Project:

The new venue will be located on current Recreational Sports land at the southwest corner of Tom Chandler Road and Penberthy Road. The following major programming elements will be included in the building:

• The new three level stadium will provide approximately 2,000 fixed seats;
• A new, approximate 6,750 sf, indoor hitting facility;
• Premium seating elements, club seats/club lounge;
• Patron restrooms, novelty retail sales, first aid;
• Team staff offices;
• Home team clubhouse facilities;
• Visiting team and umpires’ locker rooms;
• Food preparation, distribution and serving facilities;
• Press, media and broadcast facilities.

The current schedule calls for substantial completion of the Aggie Softball Stadium Project in October 2017.

Chemistry Building ’72 Wing 1st and 2nd Floor Renovation Project – $10.6 million

Background and Prior Actions: The Chemistry Building ’72 Wing 1st and 2nd Floor Renovation Project was included as an approved project on the FY 2016-FY 2020 A&M System Capital Plan approved by the Board at the September 2015 meeting.

Board Action:

1. Approve the project scope and budget.
2. Appropriate $10,550,075 for construction services and related project costs. $1,172,230 of funding has been previously appropriated to this project.
3. Approve construction of the Chemistry Building ’72 Wing 1st and 2nd Floor Renovation Project at Texas A&M University (Texas A&M).

SCOPE of Project:

This project includes approximately 20,385 square feet and will completely demolish most of the existing laboratory and laboratory support spaces on the first and second floors of the 1972 wing of the Chemistry Building (Building 484), and replace them with modern, renovated facilities that are appropriately designed and suitably equipped for current research demands. The renovated first floor will be designed for inorganic and energy-related chemistry research, while the renovated second floor will be intended for research in inorganic materials and biophysical chemistry. In order to meet these goals, the renovated first-floor laboratories will contain facilities for ventilated furnaces and glove boxes, together with adequate bench space, suitable storage facilities, and a high density of fume hoods. The renovated second-floor laboratories will also contain a considerably higher density of fume hoods than currently exists, which are essential for synthetic chemistry research, as well as necessary bench space and chemical storage facilities. Both floors will contain shared instrumentation laboratories. Renovation of the nonlaboratory (i.e., office and conference/meeting) spaces on the two floors will be addressed to the extent that the project budget permits.

In addition to scientific requirements, design of the renovated laboratories will be guided by the need to incorporate modern safety features and associated equipment, including appropriately located safety showers, eyewash stations, and related facilities.

The project will also replace four existing Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) units in the ’72 Wing basement and provide a completely re-designed and renovated HVAC system to adequately service the ground, first, and second floors.

Construction on this project is scheduled to start in June 2016 with substantial completion scheduled for June 2017.

Penberthy Rec Fields Relocation Project – $9.97 million

Board Action:

1. Amend the approved FY 2016-FY 2020 Texas A&M University System Capital Plan to add the Penberthy Rec Fields Relocation Project for Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) with an FY 2016 start date and a total planning amount of $9,967,000.
2. Approve the project scope and budget.
3. Appropriate $9,967,000 for pre-construction and construction services and related project costs.
4. Approve construction of the Penberthy Rec Fields Relocation Project at Texas A&M with a total project budget of $9,967,000.

SCOPE of Project:

Texas A&M Athletics proposes to construct a new intramural sports complex for the Department of Recreational Sports at Texas A&M. This complex will need to include at a minimum men’s and women’s restrooms, storage, event control, sound systems, security, intramural softball fields, flag football fields, and/or multi-use intramural fields. The proposed site is located at the south corner of the intersection of Penberthy Road and George Bush Drive West, just to the southeast of the existing Penberthy Intramural Complex. The site is divided into a north and south portion, subdivided by a tributary stream of White Creek. The proposed complex will have vehicle access via driveways located along both Penberthy Road and George Bush Drive West. A new 120-foot long pedestrian bridge will provide access across White Creek from the south side of the site to the north.

This project will provide new state-of-the-art facilities enabling Recreational Sports to host intramural sports activities and various other unique events for the student body and others.

The current schedule calls for substantial completion of the Penberthy Rec Fields Relocation Project in December 2016.

The Gardens at Texas A&M University Project – $6.6 million

Board Action:

1. Amend the approved FY 2016-FY 2020 Texas A&M University System Capital Plan to add The Gardens at Texas A&M University Project for Texas A&M University (Texas A&M) with an FY 2016 start date and a total planning amount of $6,578,770.
2. Appropriate $540,000 for pre-construction services and related project costs.

SCOPE of Project:

Texas A&M seeks to construct an outdoor teaching facility with gardens, a riparian greenway, and amenities to support educational activities for college and K-12 students. In addition, the facility will enhance research opportunities and provide outreach and service activities. This facility will be named The Gardens at Texas A&M University (The Gardens).

White Creek is a natural landform asset of the West Campus of Texas A&M. This riparian way was designated the West Campus Greenway in 1998 by the Board of Regents. It extends from the front of the Horticultural/Forestry Sciences Building and follows White Creek behind the AgriLife Complex to the Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

The Gardens will consist of approximately 45 acres, north of Kimbrough Boulevard behind the Texas A&M AgriLife Complex. The West Campus Greenway extending south of Kimbrough Boulevard behind George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum to George Bush Drive will be included in the Site Plan regarding the White Creek restoration only.

The mission of The Gardens is to restore, preserve, and develop a portion of the West Campus Greenway into a public garden and green space/reserve. The facility will create an aesthetic, functional public garden to conduct formal teaching, research, and extension/outreach activities consistent with the mission of Texas A&M.

Core Functions

• Education, Research, and Demonstration. Educate college students, K-12 students, the university community, and the public in the natural sciences and arts. The Gardens will serve as an outdoor classroom used to provide experiential learning opportunities in a variety of academic disciplines.
• Sustainable Natural Habitats and Built Environments. Restore and preserve natural habitats for flora and fauna. The preservation of the natural creek habitat is critical to sustaining native flora and fauna, specifically nearly 50 bird species. Create beauty through environmentally sustainable landscapes and gardens. Landscape beauty is valuable for quality-of-life on campus for students, faculty, and staff. Constructed gardens and natural planting will showcase environmentally sustainable principles and practices.
• Recreation, Special Events, and Tourism. Rejuvenate, recreate, and entertain students and visitors. The Gardens will provide a place for restful solitude, leisure, and passive recreation. It also provides a venue for the performing arts, films, celebrations, and social events.
• Ag Culture and Heritage. Illustrate and interpret the importance of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students and visitors will encounter agriculture throughout The Gardens – its historical significance to Texas and Texas A&M, as well as its value in today’s urban environment. One focus would be food security with education, demonstration, and events supporting urban farming, local foods, and farmers’ markets.