If there is one constant presence on campus, it’s
construction.
With changes being made to buildings and structures across the
university at all times, student complaints involving construction
are inevitable.
“Construction impacts everyone at UCLA,” said Tom
LaVanne, director for campus construction management services at
Capital Programs, the main source of campus construction planning
and management.
Capital Programs is currently working on 18 projects under
construction on campus, and all have the potential to affect
students who have activities around the university.
The construction mitigator is the key person dealing with campus
construction-based student concerns.
The mitigator reports to the Office of Residential Life and
administration, acting as a liaison between students and campus
construction.
When students have a problem with construction and need to voice
their concerns, ORL provides them with the mitigator’s
services.
Another job responsibility is to advocate on behalf of students
as a way to help them schedule their activities around, and
minimize the impact of construction.
Projects around Hedrick and Rieber halls are underway, and
additional projects will start around Dykstra Hall.
Early morning noise from construction sites is a common
complaint from students who live in the dormitories, said Jack
Gibbons, associate director for ORL.
The work hours around dorms have been restricted to reduce early
morning noise, and there are reduced work activities during key
academic periods such as finals, LaVanne said.
In the halls, the mitigator, students and staff create flyers,
bulletin boards and displays to keep students updated on
construction activities.
Complaints can also be registered directly with Capital
Programs.
“In general, the campus at large has been most tolerant of
and resilient in coping with the effects of construction,”
LaVanne said.
During planning and management, the staff considers issues such
as traffic and noise, he said.
“In some types of construction we design for and direct
construction techniques that produce less noise and manage traffic
impacts,” he said.
Capital Programs and Transportation Services also redirect
pedestrians and reassign parking around the jobsite by providing
signs.
UCLA Transportation Services works with Capital Programs to
discuss vehicular, pedestrian and disabled access around worksites
as early as the design phase, said Stephen Rand, traffic manager
for Transportation Services.
The project manager holds monthly meetings to update individuals
and groups who will be affected by upcoming projects, LaVanne
said.
Campus construction is an issue students will come across each
year, as the university continuously changes.
“I would like to believe that most people see these
projects as part of UCLA’s commitment to always be an
exceptional learning and research institution of immense
stature,” LaVanne said.
Students can voice construction concerns by either calling
the construction hotline at (310) 206-7800, or by e-mail at
construction@orl.ucla.edu.