The prolonged construction for the new Art and Design Building leaves professors with no offices and little space for working, APSU’s art and design students say.
According to APSU’s press release, the construction for the building was to begin in Oct. 2015 and it was excepted to open Spring 2017.
However, the project’s starting date faced a few obstacles and construction was placed on hold.
Due to poor soil conditions, the original architecture of the pillars for the building needed a redesign before construction could proceed, Bill Persinger, executive director of public relations, said in an email.
Since the theatre and dance will occupy all of Trahern after the opening of the new building, Department of Art and Design’s space this semester is limited and the department chair, Barry Jones, is the only departmental faculty with an office.
“Technically, our assigned offices are in the old Honda dealership building, but most the art professors do not use the space because you cannot lock the doors when you go to class,” art and design professor Patrick Vincent said.
One thing affecting our students this semester is the little space for a permanent gallery where artists’ work is displayed, Patrick Gosnell, assistant professor of graphic design, said in an email.
“Our gallery is located in the basement and is very small and inconvenient,” senior Lindsey Bassett said.
Lexi Moore, a senior art student, is taking many ceramics courses this semester and is directly affected by the construction.
The construction blocks off several entrances in Trahern, which makes it difficult when shipments of clay come in. Also, a few weeks ago, the construction site took over the shed for the ceramics and another art studio, said Moore.
“The base entrance to the ceramics studio has pretty much been turned into a pit,” Bassett said.
Another difficulty the art and design department faces this semester is limited access to equipment.
“Some of the art equipment is in storage waiting to be installed into the new building,” Vincent said.
Although the professors and students are working around the difficulties, they are waiting for their new home.
Vincent said he is most looking forward to better safety for students, access to equipment and talking
to his colleagues and faculty more once the department moves into the building.
“The bottom line is: transitions are hard, but our students and faculty are a creative group, and I think we’ve focused more on the eventual outcome than the difficulties we’ve faced this semester,” Gosnell said.
According to the schedule, the building will be completed during the spring semester and will open its doors during Summer 2017. Faculty can move in before the end of this semester, according to Persinger.
