Miller Hall on pace for completion Aug. 18

The renovation of the 1940s wing of Miller Hall is on schedule for substantial completion by Aug. 18, Western Staff Architect David Willett said Wednesday. After that, furniture is moved into the building on Aug. 29, and staff move into the building on Sept. 12. The final completion date is on schedule for Oct. 17, Willett said.

“We always give ourselves a couple of months after to clean up,” he said.

The two-phase renovation of Miller Hall is providing general university classrooms, computer labs, instructional space, offices and support facilities for Woodring College of Education and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

Woodring moved its offices into the 1960s wing after that phase was completed a year ago.

All building systems (including electrical, mechanical, data, heating and air conditioning), elevators, roofing, windows and exterior elements have been replaced. Two new elevators will provide access to all levels. Fully accessible restrooms will be constructed on each floor. New general university classrooms, computer labs and collaborative spaces will be created.

The Woodring College of Education will expand into the renovated space along with the Modern and Classical Languages Department and other academic functions.

East College Way repaving

As part of the project, East College Way will be repaved from Aug. 21 to 26, weather permitting. The street will be closed to all pedestrian, bicycle, skateboard and vehicle traffic during that time.

The increased construction traffic from the renovation of Miller Hall exacerbated the poor condition of the road, and the improvements not only will fix the pavement but also will address other safety issues through the installation of new crosswalks, curb cuts and signage. Additionally, East College Way will be designated as a "sharrow," or shared bicycle/vehicle route.

On Sunday and Monday, Aug. 21 and 22, Whatcom Builders will grind approximately 2 inches of the existing road surface at the parking lot behind Old Main and work their way south to the intersection of East College Way and South College Drive. Paving will be installed on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be followed by the application of parking stall markers, the road center line and signage.

During the construction, east entries to Old Main, Fraser Hall, Miller Hall and the Steam Plant will be closed. All parking lots accessed from East College Way also will be closed. Prior to the road closure, all permit holders for those lots will be notified by the Parking Office regarding alternate parking.

Large dump trucks will be on site during the construction, and the work will generate noise, dust and fumes, particularly during the grinding stage. Ear plugs are available from Environmental Health & Safety at (360) 650-3064.

The parking lot attendant currently located near the Steam Plant will be stationed at the intersection of East College Way and South College Drive to help detour traffic.

For questions or concerns, contact Dale Krause, the on-site construction coordinator, at (360) 650-4646 or dale.krause@wwu.edu, or David Willett, project manager, at (360) 650-6813 or david.willett@wwu.edu.

More information on the Miller Hall renovation is available on the Facilities Management website. Stay tuned to Western Today on Friday, Aug. 12, for more photos of Miller Hall construction.

Western Today editor Matthew Anderson contributed to this report.