May 2009 - Sound & Communications

new high school has begun, with aplanned opening in September 2010.The high school, situated on a 26-acresite, will be 400,000 square feet andaccommodate 2000 students. It boastsa flexible design allowing the schoolto have either departmental units orsmaller academies. The communitycan make use of the four athletic facilities,gymnasiums, auditoriums andcommon areas after school. Start datefor the Redshaw School is second orthird quarter 2009, with completion inQ1/11.In Eugene OR, a construction projectfor a new alumni center at theUniversity of Oregon is ready to commencenext Winter, after receiving $3million in gifts. Planned to be built onthe southwest corner of the new MatthewKnight Arena site, the CherylRamber Ford and Allyn Ford AlumniCenter will serve as a welcome centerfor prospective students, alumni andcampus visitors. The 60,000-square-footcenter will feature event space, a lobby,a lounge, additional conference roomsand multipurpose gathering spaces. Aninteractive multimedia installation willbe included in the project, as well.Badgers Forge AheadIn Madison WI, the University ofWisconsin is developing a $25 millionhockey arena/practice facility next tothe Kohl Center. The building wouldbe home to the women’s games and apractice venue for men’s and women’steams. It would also consolidate someof their support spaces. At this writing,the university was preparing to selectan architect to design a four-level buildingwith bench seating for 2400 spectators,concessions and restrooms. Projectorganizers hope to break ground in2010 for a Fall 2012 opening.The University of Iowa (UI) estimatesthat, if the arts campus is rebuiltin a different location, it will costnearly $750 million to recover the campuscompletely from June 2008 flooding.That is more than triple the $232million estimate for damages that wasproduced shortly after the flood. AfterFederal Emergency ManagementAgency (FEMA) and insurance moneyare taken into account, UI will be responsiblefor paying $185 million of thecosts. The large, afore-referenced figureassumes rebuilding two complexesin new locations; if UI rebuilds the artscampus in its current location, the totalcost would be $590 million. However,UI’s cost burden in either scenariowould differ by only $10 million afterinsurance and FEMA dollars are takeninto account.Capturing students’ attention, andaiding in their information retention,has become critical for today’s schoolsand colleges. Administrators and teachershave realized that technology—bothaudiovisual and IT—accomplishes bothtasks, while also giving the teachermore options and greater flexibility.As stimulus money is pumped throughthe veins of the economy, the ObamaAdministration has promised to makeeducation a priority. As such, savvysystems integrators will redouble theirefforts in this space.nMay 2009 75