Construction is essential to WSSU growth

The multiple construction projects underway at Winston-Salem State University are a necessary inconvenience, precipitated by increasing enrollment on the campus, according to Jorge Quintal, director of facilities planning.  Quintal described the work as “essential.” He added that despite hassles, the overall redesign of the campus (as with the newly completed mall construction), will give the campus community “a sense of place,” where students and faculty can interact with each other in an improved environment.”  There are multiple projects in the works: – A state-of-the-art science building, located across the street from the Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium, is expected to open its doors in the spring.  – An Early Childhood Development Center is being built behind the football field. This 7,000 square-foot building is also expected to open in the spring. – The roadside entrance to Hall-Patterson, which houses the departments of English and Mass Communication, is scheduled for completion at the end of this month. WSSU student Candace Good said construction has not been too bothersome. However, Good questioned whether, when everything is completed, there will be amble parking on campus.  As it is, there are an inadequate number of parking spaces on campus and this is a top concern for students, faculty and visitors. Good said she also believes that more money should have been allocated for construction of campus housing.  Quintal said plans are in place to construct a 400-bed residence hall on Martin Luther King Boulevard. It is expected to open next August, and work will begin within the next month or so. Other building projects include:  Renovations on Carolina Hall, which will house the Math Department, First Year College, and the Dean of Arts and Sciences, starting in July. The hall renovations are scheduled for completion by next fall.  Then in January, renovations to wings A and B of the Anderson Center are expected to begin and will continue until December. Starting next month, work will begin on a new student Health Center, in which the health clinic and the counseling center will be located. Quintal explained that construction, by its very nature, requires that people be rerouted, which affects roads and access to buildings. But, he added that “we at WSSU are fortunate to have these growing pains and the funds to do all of this.”