COUNCIL FOR THE BUlL T ENVIRONMENT

Co-Chairs: Dr. Karan L. Watson, Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Jerry R. Strawser, Vice President for Finance and Administration

October 27, 2016

MEMORANDUM

TO:

SUBJECT:

President Michael K. Young President, Texas A&M University

CBE Recommendation: Student Services Building

The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) reviewed a request from the Division of Student Affairs for project approval to demolish Bizzell Hall and construct a new Student Services building in its location. The new building footprint would also take over the adjacent parking lot 28. The request as well as the sub-council's report are attached.

The Design Review sub-council (DRsc) voted to recommend approval of the request to demolish Bizzell Hall and use that site along with adjacent parking lot 28 for construction of a new Student Services building, with the following caveats:

• A thorough study of Bizzell Hall should be conducted in order to determine its important historic components and how they might be retained or incorporated into the new design in a meaningful and notable way. It is recommended that a design firm specializing in heritage buildings would be most appropriate for this task.

• Design of a new building on this site should proceed with a high sensitivity to this important location and its contribution to the historic fabric of the campus. The site should be studied in a holistic way with regard to footprint, height, interaction with ·surrounding buildings and landscape.

• A photographic and drawn record of Bizzell Hall as well as existing historical drawings and photographs should be prepared and provided to Cushing Memorial Library and Archives prior to demolition. The demolition costs should include the preparation of this record.

• Preservation of the memorial trees circling Bizzell Hall and Hart Hall is important as these were originally planted as WWI memorials.

• Further design details should be presented to the DRsc at 1 00% Schematic Design and 100% Design Development, in accordance with DRsc procedures.

The Facilities Utilization and Planning sub-council (FUPsc) supports the request to construct a new student services building.

The Technical Review sub-council (TRsc) supports the proposed Student Services Building and recommends approval, provided the following issues/concerns are addressed and funded .

• Comply with appropriate storm water requirements. • The design team needs to ensure that the project does not increase the rate of storm runoff into local

creeks. • The project team should coordinate with Grounds Management for landscaping and irrigation

concerns.

Jack K. Williams Administration Building_ SUite 100 1248 TAM\-!, College Station. TX 77843-1248 USA

Tel. +1 979.84~.4016 Fax,'{1 979.845.6994 http://cbe.tamu.edu/ ·

October 27, 2016 CBE Recommendation: Student Services Building Page 2

• The project team should ensure that the facility is designed to minimize, as much as practical, the effort needed for future maintenance. It is preferred that items requiring maintenance be easy to service, be easily accessible from ground or floor level, have generous clearances and be easy to isolate from energy sources with minimal impact to the rest of the facility. Elevated items requiring maintenance that are difficult to service by ladder or lift should have permanent maintenance access platforms with permanent stairs or ladders, built-in fall prevention, and davits for hoisting parts and tools.

• FCOR recommends approval of this project with the request that all activities which affect the facilities inventory are promptly reported to FCOR when definitive information is available.

• University Police voiced concerns about drive lane for patient pick up from student counseling center; we do not believe there is room on the site for this addition.

• We believe disability services office will have concerns about close access for guests with mobility restrictions or impairments. Plans to redevelop West Lamar Street are underway with intentions to eliminate all parking in the roadway. This leaves the closest public parking areas as University Center and Cain Garages. Customers with A&M permits and disabled license plates or placards would have access to park in lot lOb off of Ross Street. Lot 19, between the Psychology Building and Hart Hall is gated and not available for public access. It could be possible for the department to purchase guest spaces in lot 19 and provide a key code to customers with appointments so they may access the spaces. It could be possible to allow customers with appointments be given a key code to access the disabled spaces in Lot 19.

• The project and design team will need to follow the applicable T AMU UES Design Standards­https://utilities.tamu.edu/design-standards/.

• The project and design team will need to follow the TAMU policy on digging on campus prior to any excavation- https://utilities.tamu.edu/digging-campus/.

The CBE voted to recommend, with noted caveats, the President's approval of the request from the Division of Student Affairs to demolish Bizzell Hall and construct a new Student Services building in its location.

/'!J "'ZY:--tb Date

Provost and Executive Vice President Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

Approved:

10)1.71•" Je Date Vice President for Finance & Administration Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

cc: Sub-Council Chairs, Council for the Built Environment Dr. Daniel J. Pugh, Vice President for Student Affairs

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

MEMORANDUM

TO:

THROUGH:

FROM:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

Dr. Karan Watson Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs CBE Co-Chair

Dr. Jerry Strawser Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

CBE Co-Chair /\ I/} Daniel J. Pugh, Sr., Ph.b. lfJI'.__./ Vice President for Student Affairs

Tom~ Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

September 6, 2016

Student Services Building

In the fall of 2015 the Disability Services, Residence Life, Student Counseling Center, and the Offices of the Dean of Student Life were relocated from Cain Hall to temporary portable buildings adjacent to White Creek Apartments. Cain Hall (94,394 sq. ft.) was demolished to make room for the Cain Redevelopment Project which currently contains a parking garage with proposed additions of a hotel and classrooms.

The university has been very supportive in replacing the 94,394 sq. ft. facility once we were able to identify an approved building site.

The purpose of this memo is to request through CBE, permission to build the new Student Services Building on the current site of Bizzell Hall and the adjacent parking lot.

There has been some discussion as to try and renovate Bizzell Hall, however it became quickly apparent that financially it would not be a good investment.

BIZZELL HALL • Currently has between $8-$9M in deferred maintenance

• Has accessibility issues, no elevator and infiltration problems

• No central AC, window units only

117 Koldus Student Services Building 1256 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1256

Tel. 979.845.4728 Fax. 979.845.3320 http://studentaffa irs. tam u. ed u

2004 Campus Masterplan- Bizzell Hall- Building proposed for demolition-inferior building condition. No vapor barrier. Building cooled with window units and has radiant heating. Exterior envelope is not watertight. Not NFDA or ADA compliant. No elevators. 2016 Building Assessment- Division of Finance recommendation- Renovation could take place that would provide office space that is usable. It would best serve the university if the facility could be demolished and a new facility built in its place.

Razing a 100 year old facility is not an easy decision. However, after studying all the maintenance needs along with the square footage necessary to house the four departments it became apparent to us that this was the best direction to pursue.

RECOMMENDATIONS My recommendation would be to raze Bizzell Hall as early as May 2017. Move the existing Student life Staff {27) currently housed in Bizzell to new portables at White Creek. Build a new 94,000+ sq. ft . facility on the Bizzell site for Disability Services, Residence Life, Student Counseling, and Student Life.

ADVANTAGES • The departments that were housed in Cain Hall have very close working relationships due to the

nature of their work and services they provide. The students will be better served by keeping these departments together and centrally located on campus.

• The new facility will be located in the hub of Student Affairs facilities (MSC, Rudder and Koldus) and a high student traffic area.

• A new facility, over renovated space will allow departments to design their space for what they need with limited constraints.

• Razing Bizzell would eliminate a facility which is a financial drain to the university due to high deferred maintenance.

• A new facility is easier to project anticipated costs compared with the surprises that can be found in a renovation.

• Utilities are centrally located to the site.

Attached you will find requested site plans and schematic floor plans.

Thank you for your consideration.

1

Current Bizzell Hall Site with Adjacent Parking Lot

Student Services Building Site

2

3

Utility Map

Student Services Building Level 1

4

Student Services Building Level 2

5

Student Services Building Level 3

6

Student Services Building Level 4

7

Student Services Building 

8

Student Services Building

9

COUNCIL FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN REVIEW SUB-COUNCIL

1

MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. Jerry Strawser Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment

Dr. Karan Watson Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment FROM: Ms. Lilia Gonzales, AIA University Architect and Chair, Design Review Sub-Council DATE: October 21, 2016 RE: Design Review Sub-Council (DRsc) Report

Student Services Building On October 12, 2016 the Design Review sub-council (DRsc) reviewed a request from the Division of Student Affairs for project approval to demolish Bizzell Hall and construct a new Student Services building in its location. The new building footprint would also take over the adjacent parking lot 28. In Fall 2015, Disability Services, Residence Life, Student Counseling Center, and the Offices of the Dean of Student Life were relocated from Cain Hall to temporary portable buildings adjacent to White Creek Apartments due to the Cain Hall Redevelopment Project. Since that time, the university’s intent has been to replace the space lost by Student Affairs with a new Student Services Building. Bizzell Hall was identified as an excellent location for student service space due to its central campus location and proximity to high student traffic areas. Bizzell is located at the corner of Houston Street and Lamar Street, with the Coke building to the north and Rudder Plaza to the south. It was constructed in 1918 and originally served as a dormitory. During the 1960s the building was converted to offices, and today is home to Student Life staff. The 2004 Campus Master Plan identified Bizzell Hall for demolition due to inferior building conditions, which included: no vapor barrier, no central heating and cooling, not code compliant or ADA accessible, no elevators, and exterior envelope is not watertight. In 2016 a building assessment was conducted in order to evaluate the costs of rehabilitation and addition versus new construction. Bizzell currently has $8-9 million in deferred maintenance needs and it was concluded that renovation would be very costly in comparison to new construction. At that time, cultural and historical significance were also evaluated. Due to all of these factors, it was determined that it would be most cost effective to demolish Bizzell and build a new building in its place. Square footage requirements would necessitate that the building footprint encompass the adjacent parking lot 28 located between Bizzell and Coke. This is line with the direction of the Campus Master Plan Update which recommends elimination of smaller, interior lots and consolidation of surface parking lots to the garages and outer areas in order to create a more pedestrian-friendly campus. The proposed new facility would be four stories and approximately 94,000 square feet.

COUNCIL FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN REVIEW SUB-COUNCIL

2

DRsc members discussed the significance of this site and implications of demolishing a historic building. It was discussed that complete demolition is not the only option, as there are ways to incorporate old buildings with new construction, such as to tear away part of the structure but keep visually-significant components. The DRsc requests further study of a similar approach or one that utilizes components of the existing structure in a significant way. The DRsc is cognizant of costs and believes the above mentioned approach can be included without the addition of significant cost. With this project the university has an opportunity to do something special in regards to the heritage building component. The DRsc would like to acknowledge that this was a tough decision, as it is not easy to recommend demolition of a historic building, but ultimately the most important component was providing a centrally located, high traffic area or site for the student services offered within this building. Recommendation DRsc members voted to recommend approval of the request to demolish Bizzell Hall and use that site along with adjacent parking lot 28 for construction of a new Student Services building, with the following caveats:

- A thorough study of Bizzell Hall should be conducted in order to determine its important historic components and how they might be retained or incorporated into the new design in a meaningful and notable way. It is recommended that a design firm specializing in heritage buildings would be most appropriate for this task.

- Design of a new building on this site should proceed with a high sensitivity to this important location and its contribution to the historic fabric of the campus. The site should be studied in a holistic way with regard to footprint, height, interaction with surrounding buildings and landscape.

- A photographic and drawn record of Bizzell Hall as well as existing historical drawings and photographs should be prepared and provided to Cushing Memorial Library and Archives prior to demolition. The demolition costs should include the preparation of this record.

- Preservation of the memorial trees circling Bizzell Hall and Hart Hall is important as these were originally planted as WWI memorials.

- Further design details should be presented to the DRsc at 100% Schematic Design and 100% Design Development, in accordance with DRsc procedures.

Selected images are attached. Please contact me with any questions.

cc: Tom Reber

DRsc Members Bettyann Zito

Student Services at White CreekRelocated from Cain Hall in the fall of 2015

4

5

Site Map of Cain Redevelopment & Bizzell Site

Bizzell Hall

• Currently has between $8 - $9M in deferred maintenance

• Has accessibility issues, no elevator and infiltration problems

• No central AC, window units only

7

2004 Campus Master Plan

Bizzell Hall –• Building proposed for

demolition-inferior building condition

• No vapor barrier • Building cooled with window

units and has radiant heating.• Exterior envelope is not

watertight • Not NFDA or ADA compliant• No elevators

8

2016 Building Assessment Bizzell Hall –Division of Finance recommendation –Renovation could take place that would provide office space that is usable.

It would best serve the university if the facility could be demolished and a new facility built in its place.

9

• My recommendation would be to raze Bizzell Hall as early as Summer 2017.

• Move the existing Student Life Staff (27) currently housed in Bizzell to new portables at White Creek.

• Build a new 94,346 sq. ft. facility on the Bizzell site for Disability Services, Residence Life, Student Counseling, and Student Life.

10

Recommendations

11

Current Bizzell Hall Site with Adjacent Parking Lot

• Students better served by keeping Disability Services, Res Life, Student Counseling and Student Life together

• Centrally located on campus in the hub of Student Affairs facilities (MSC, Rudder and Koldus)

• Located in a high student traffic area

• A new facility will allow departments to design their space for what they need with limited constraints

• Razing Bizzell would eliminate a facility which is a financial drain to the university due to high deferred maintenance

• A new facility is easier to project anticipated costs compared with the surprises that can be found in a renovation

• Utilities are centrally located to the site.

12

Advantages

 Council for the Built Environment Facilities Utilization and Planning Sub-Council

   September 22, 2016 MEMORANDUM To: Dr. Karan Watson Provost & Executive Vice President

Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment Dr. Jerry Strawser Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer

Co-Chair, Council for the Built Environment From: Dr. J. Martin Scholtz

Executive Associate Vice President for Research Chair, CBE-Facilities Utilization and Planning Sub-Council Subject: Student Services Building SCOPE

The FUPsc has reviewed the request by Tom Reber, associate vice president for student affairs, to consider approval for the construction of a new student services building. Several student affairs offices were displaced to portable buildings with the recent Cain Redevelopment Project. As noted in the attached memorandum, the current site of Bizzell Hall has been identified as a good place to build the new building. While Bizzell Hall is a 100 year old building, with all the maintenance needs, it is apparent that renovation of the building is not advisable. Razing the structure would allow for a new building large enough to house those previously displaced including Disability Services, Residence Life, Student Counseling, and Student Life. The Bizzell site’s central location will better serve the students in need of these services.

RECOMMENDATION The Council for the Built Environment’s (CBE) Facilities Utilization and Planning sub-council (FUPsc) recommends that the CBE support the request to construct a new student services building.

We are pleased to offer this recommendation and welcome further inquiries related to this analysis. Attachments CC: CBE-FUPsc members

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

MEMORANDUM

TO: Dr. Karan Watson

Co-chair, Council on the Built Environment

Dr. Jerry Strawser

Co-chair, Council on the Built Environment

FROM: To~ Chair, CBE Technical Review Sub-council

DATE: September 28, 2016

SUBJECT: CBE TRsc Recommendation: Student Services Building

On September 19, 2016 Mr. Tom Reber, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs presented to the

CBE's Technical Review Sub~council on the proposed Student Services Building to be built on the current

site of Bizzell Hall. The new 94,000+ sq. ft. Student Services Building would house Disability Services,

Residence Life, Student Counseling and Student Life.

Recommendation

The Technical Review Sub-council supports the proposed Student Services Building and recommends

approval, provided the following issues/concerns are addressed and funded.

EH&S: EHS supports this project. Beyond normal compliance with university fire and life safety standards the following comments are provided regarding storm water/environmental compliance.

Comply with appropriate storm water requirements.

Facility Services:

The design team needs to ensure that the project does not increase the rate of storm runoff into local creeks.

The project team should coordinate with Grounds Management for landscaping and irrigation concerns.

The project team should ensure that the facility is designed to minimize, as much as practical, the effort needed for future maintenance. It is preferred that items requiring maintenance be easy to service, be easily accessible from ground or floor level, have generous clearances and be easy to isolate from energy sources with minimal impact to the rest of the facility. Elevated items requiring maintenance

117 Koldus Student Services Building 1256 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-1256

Tel. 979.845.4728 Fax. 979.845.3320 http://studentaff a irs. tam u.ed u

that are difficult to service by ladder or lift should have permanent maintenance access platforms with permanent stairs or ladders, built-in fall prevention, and davits for hoisting parts and tools.

FCOR/GIS:

FCOR recommends approval of this project with the request that all activities which affect the facilities

inventory are promptly reported to FCOR when definitive information is available.

Transportation Services:

Robert Meyer with University Police voiced concerns about drive lane for patient pick up from student

counseling center; we do not believe there is room on the site for this addition.

We believe disability services office will have concerns about close access for guests with mobility

restrictions or impairments. Plans to redevelop West lamar Street are underway with intentions to

eliminate all parking in the roadway. This leaves the closest public parking areas as University Center

and Cain Garages. Customers with A&M permits and disabled license plates or placards would have

access to park in lot lOb off of Ross Street. lot 19, between the Psychology Building and Hart Hall is

gated and not available for public access. It could be possible for the department to purchase guest

spaces in lot 19 and provide a key code to customers with appointments so they may access the spaces.

It could be possible to allow customers with appointments be given a key code to access the disabled

spaces in Lot 19.

Utilities and Energy Services: TAMU UES looks forward to working closely with the project and design team to ensure that all campus requirements are met and that the project is successful.

The project and design team will need to follow the applicable TAMU UES Design Standards ·

https://utilities.tamu.edu/design-standards/.

The project and design team will need to follow the TAMU policy on digging on campus- prior to any excavation- https://utilities.tamu.edu/digging-campus/.

A drawing has been attached showing the proposed point of connection to the TAMU thermal system that will be provided as part of the Lamar/Stallings Thermal Upgrades.

Capital Financial Planning, CIS, Procurement, University Police. Student Affairs. Telecommunications:

No concerns.

XC! CBE Technical Review Sub-council

CBE Support Staff