King Hall East Wing on Schedule for May Completion, Renovation Set to Launch
The King Hall Expansion and Renovation project made great strides in March, as the Spring Recess provided an opportunity for the contractor to perform critical work tying the new east wing to the existing building's infrastructure. By the beginning of April, the new structure had assumed much of its final appearance while crews readied the interior for June occupancy and plans for the renovation phase of the project were finalized.
Throughout the construction, every effort has been made to conduct potentially disruptive activities at times when they would be least likely to disturb faculty, students, and staff. The Spring Recess, March 22-26, provided an opportunity to connect the infrastructure of the new wing to that of the existing building--a task that required the temporary shutdown of electrical and climate-control systems--while classes were in recess.
The process began March 19, as King Hall's steam lines were shut down, which curtailed hot water and heat to the building through March 26. Meanwhile, electricity was turned off on March 21 while crews connected electrical lines between the existing building and the new wing, and telephone lines were shut down March while telecommunications equipment was installed. Additionally, the temporary student lounge area was closed March 24-26 while several new core drillings were made in the area above. Meanwhile, crews finished installing the exterior façade, while work continue inside to finish interior walls, wood paneling, and floor tiles in anticipation of completion of the expansion May.
The renovation phase of the project, set to begin as soon as the Law School occupies the new wing, will touch every space within King Hall. It will renovate classrooms, adding three new reading rooms and a dozen group study rooms, create a new grand entrance for the Mabie Law Library, and expand and consolidate student spaces in the new Student Activity Center, with new spaces for the student organization and journal offices, the Judy Campos McKeehan '74 Memorial Student Lounge, Russell Jura '74 Student Locker Alcoves, and the Nancy Coan Torres '86 and Michael Torres Perfect Care Tender Co-Op. The renovation will also upgrade finishes so the paint, floors, doors, interior relites, ceilings, and lighting fixtures in the renovated King Hall match those of the expansion wing. Accessibility, heating and air, telecommunication and data, and life-safety systems also will be upgraded. Construction is expected to begin in August.
The Law School is still working to raise $2.6 million toward an overall campaign goal of $8 million in order to fully realize the potential of the renovation phase of the project. Please consider making a gift to the King Hall Expansion and Renovation project today at www.law.ucdavis.edu/giving.