Updated at 1:14 p.m., Monday, March 5, 2007
Lingle releases $3 million for UH-Manoa upgrade plans
News Release
Nearly $3 million in planning funds have been released by Gov. Linda Lingle for major projects at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
"These projects will provide a new, attractive 'front door' to the Manoa campus, offer students an around-the-clock activities center, and fund much-needed classroom modernization and expansion," interim Chancellor Denise Eby Konan said in a university news release issued today.
"UH Manoa needs these improvements to fulfill our vision of a truly livable campus, one that offers a morning-through-night community in which to learn, work and play," she said.
The released capital improvement funds provide:
$1 million to plan improvements and expansion of the Campus Center into an activities center for students, including a 24-hour fitness facility, shops, restaurants, activities and gathering rooms. The student-designed project will also expand meeting rooms, conference facilities and study spaces.
$1.1 million for planning and designs for the renovation of historic Gartley Hall to correct safety, health and accessibility problems. The 85-year-old building is home to the Department of Psychology, which has the largest number of majors on the Manoa campus. Gartley Hall is on the State Register of Historic Places.
$500,000 for expansion and renovation of the William S. Richardson School of Law, a project that also will help provide an attractive campus gateway for thousands who use the lower campus parking structures. In addition to expanding the Law Library, the project will renovate the law school courtyard and will create gathering and eating places for Manoa students and staff.
$380,000 to plan construction of a new three-story classroom building on the site of Henke Hall. Construction of the proposed building would mark the first major classroom addition at the Manoa campus in 40 years.
The Legislature last year approved the planning funds. It will consider construction funding for the projects during the session now under way. All of the proposed projects will incorporate "green" sustainable building elements and will promote a Hawaiian sense of place, the news release stated.
