Barricades add life to construction
Colorful murals conceal two-year renovations; guide students in
Union
By Allison Lefkowitz
Daily Bruin Staff
Ice cream cones, literary excerpts and illustrations of student
store merchandise  all painted on the barricades that
surround Ackerman Union and Kerckhoff Hall  are part of a
"metamorphosis" that aims to conceal the two-year seismic
renovation and expansion of both buildings.
Coordinators of the barricade project, titled "Metamorphosis,"
said they hope the murals and silk-screened banners will help
students locate things in the student union and safely find their
way around the construction. The $70,000 barricades are funded by
the renovation budget.
Some students said they like the fact that the university is
trying to make the construction look a little better.
"If they’re going to have the construction, they need something
to protect the people," said Ruth Rivera, a fifth-year English
student. "If it’s going to stay here for a while, they might as
well make it look pleasant."
The construction barricades could also be a good surface for
student artists to express themselves, said Jeanna Yoo,
undergraduate cultural affairs commissioner.
"Just looking at the space, I just feel it would be so cool if
student work was up there," Yoo said. "It would definitely be
something cultural  something that would enrich people Â
not just to make it look pretty."
Yoo is working to secure space from the university on the
remaining unpainted barricades, such as the green fences near Royce
Hall.
The Ackerman and Kerckhoff barricades were designed by Steve
Kelso, an environmental graphics designer for the students’
association, and four UCLA student designers. The mural
incorporates graphic icons of food, books, Bruin bears, clothing
and other items sold in the students’ store.
In addition, quotations by writers including Ray Bradbury and
William Shakespeare give students something to read as they
traverse Bruin Walk.
Ackerman and Kerckhoff’s renovation and expansion projects have
been in the works for a long time, said Phyllis Schultz, mural
project coordinator.
When finished, both buildings will be earthquake safe and
Ackerman will have extended student services, more meeting rooms
and disabled access, she said.
"We want the wall to remind people that change is a natural part
of life," Kelso said. "That even though the retrofitting project
may present some initial inconveniences for all of us, life goes on
and the student center will continue to operate. The mural design
emphasizes this positive attitude."
Designers said they also built peepholes to allow students to
watch the construction project as it unfolds.
But some students said they wish there was an explanation of the
renovation project posted along the barriers.
"It’s ugly," said Mike Dockens, an undeclared first-year
student. "It doesn’t have a layout of what it’s going to look
like."
Others also said the barricades make the campus feel
claustrophobic because there are so many people and very few ways
to get around the construction. But, they agreed that the painted
barriers are better than the chain link fences that were there
before.
"I think it’s a nice attempt to make the campus look like a
campus," said second-year economics student Mike Dockens.