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November 8, 2019

Campus Update: Construction at the Field Building at 17 Lexington Avenue

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I am writing to provide the Baruch community with an update on the renovation of the Field Building at 17 Lexington Avenue. This project, a multiphase plan to renovate and modernize a building constructed in 1929 and minimally renovated since, is a massive undertaking and has resulted in dust, noise, and an overall challenging experience.

Being in a building under construction is trying and has required patience and sacrifice, but there is good news to share.

Project Milestones
We are in the final months of the current phase of construction, which began in January 2017. Much of this phase is focused on major infrastructure upgrades necessary for the foundation for any future work. A number of major milestones have been met, including:

*         Four out of six elevators have been renovated.

*         The Con Ed vault designed to bring more electric power to the building is completed and ready to go live.

*         Multiple risers in hallways and classrooms designed to house future infrastructure are completed.

*         The emergency generator and chiller have been installed on the roof.

*         The new south addition (future home to four elevators) up to the third floor has been completed.

*         Demolition of a portion of the basement to lower the floor has been completed, and significant reconstruction of the basement has been completed.

*         Multiple electrical and mechanical systems, and upgrades throughout the building, have been completed.

In Progress
We are currently on track to complete several major milestones next year.

*         Renovation of two new elevators and the elevator lobby. Projected completion: Start of the Spring 2020 semester.

*         Installation of a new glass entryway and lowered ADA-accessible entrance and new turnstiles on Lexington Avenue. Projected completion: Start of the Spring 2020 semester.

*         The final part of the project, the installation of a new roof and completion of basement reconstruction and various mechanical systems, will be completed Spring 2020.

Please visit the 17 Lex Renovation webpage<https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/17lexupdate/project-overview.html> for an overview of this multiyear project and an archive of communications.

Continued Thanks for Your Understanding
Although progress has been made, there has been-and continues to be-disruption to the students, faculty, and staff who use the building. This semester, there is only one bank of three elevators in use. This is because two elevators in the other bank are undergoing reconstruction, including the floor, ceiling, and wall adjacent to them. Heating was affected by boiler issues: we could not start the boiler until the contractor had the new gas piping inspected and signed off by Department of Buildings inspectors, which was delayed. And most recently, because of electrical issues associated with the project, a water pump failed and the upper floors were without working bathrooms for a day and a half, until a new pump could be procured and installed.

In each case, the College has made efforts to mitigate the negative impact by assigning more public safety staff, running express elevators during busy times, obtaining and distributing space heaters, and bringing on more custodians to clean the usable bathrooms during the water failure. I understand that no remediation measures can fully compensate for the inconvenience and hardships that building occupants endure, and I can only ask for your continued patience as we work as quickly as possible to handle problems as they arise.

As we approach the completion of this phase of the 17 Lex renovation project, we appreciate your continued patience and cooperation.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Katharine Cobb
Vice President for Administration and Finance


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