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Say, you hear about that Pray-Harrold construction?

I don’t mean to be too snarky, but AnnArbor.com’s “As Pray-Harrold work begins, Eastern Michigan University professors settle into temporary digs” isn’t exactly breaking news, though it does include a decent enough picture and a few quotes from some of my colleagues.

I haven’t swung by Pray-Harrold in a couple of weeks; is there [...]

Pray-Harrold construction: The exile is about to begin

I began writing this post in what is likely to be my “office” for the next two years:  the EMU Student Center.  We will see what the arrangements are like in my real temporary office space in Hoyt, but as many of the characters in the Star Wars series were fond of saying, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Continue reading Pray-Harrold construction: The exile is about to begin

A reported renovation I am almost certain will not be included in the Pray-Harrold renovation

“P-H to get makeover” is an Eastern Echo article that sums up some of the upcoming renovation plans to Pray-Harrold.  I’m not entirely sure where the reporter got her information on these changes, but there is at least one that I am quite certain is not in the works:

Plans for the renovation include [...]

Pray-Harrold Renovation Meetings

I’ve been meaning to post this here for a while now.  From a memo I received recently:

In an effort to create a smooth transition to new locations during the renovation of the Pray?Harrold Building we have arranged to have four open forum meetings to share information about all matters related to the Pray?Harrold renovation and move.
All residents of Pray­Harrold are invited.
The following dates are reserved for the meetings:

Friday, January 22, 10:00?11:30, 216 PH

Friday, February 19, 10:00?11:30, 216 PH

Friday, March 19, 10:00?11:30, 216 PH

Friday, April 16, 10:00?11:30, 216 PH

As someone who is “a resident” (?) of Pray-Harrold and also on the committee, I have a couple of thoughts about this:

Continue reading Pray-Harrold Renovation Meetings

Swing space plan for Pray-Harrold, Science Complex in development

Former Ann Arbor News reporter/columnist and current EMU PR/writer guy Geoff Larcom sent me an email suggesting that I post a link to this Focus EMU article, “Swing space plan for Pray-Harrold, Science Complex in development.” It runs through the basic plans for what to do about space for offices, teaching, etc. for everyone [...]

Pray-Harrold meetings, milestones, schedules, and entropy

Just today, I received an email about the Pray-Harrold Advisory Committee about a meeting I can’t go to tomorrow and also about some “milestones and schedules” in the project. According to this document, the Pray-Harrold project is but one Legislative approval step away for construction, and that should be resolved very soon. According to this same document, construction will commence on November 15, 2009, and the project will be complete on December 21, 2012.

(Note to the few folks who entered the PH renovation pool: “beginning construction” for the purposes of the pool means actual construction, not the likely ribbon cutting ceremony that will be in mid-November 2009. And we might just have to change this pool into the more unpredictable “ending of construction” on Pray-Harrold pool).

As but an alternate representative to the committee (and one whose attendance at these meetings has been intermittent to say the least), my assessment of the process has been kind of mixed. At one point, I described it here as a train-wreck. I don’t think that’s true anymore, but there is something oddly unsatisfying and yet inevitable about this project.

Let me give you a couple of examples:
Continue reading Pray-Harrold meetings, milestones, schedules, and entropy

Stimulus good news/bad news

From today’s CHE: “Colleges and Students Cheer Congress’s Economic-Stimulus Deal.” Sure, maybe “cheer” in general terms, but it seems like a good news/bad news to me. The good news:

The compromise, $789-billion economic-stimulus bill that Congress is planning to try to deliver to President Obama by Monday contains large sums of money for [...]

“Congress Reaches Deal on $789 Billion Stimulus Bill”

From the CHE Daily: “Congress Reaches Deal on $789-Billion Stimulus Bill.” This thing is still clearly a moving target and given the pessimism I’ve heard lately about how this will work for bailing states (like Michigan) out of debt, I still think it’s too early to be optimistic. But here’s a couple interesting paragraphs [...]

Is the Pray-Harrold project turning into a train wreck?

u [...]

What I don’t know about the Pray-Harrold renovation could fill the building

Say, it’s still not too late to enter the Pray-Harrold renovation finally begins pool here at EMUTalk.org– there’s lot of open dates, lots of fabulous prizes, etc. Why not sign up today?

I was reminded of the contest again yesterday because I attended (in my alternate capacity) a couple of the sessions where contractors [...]