PROJECT STATUS REPORT – FEBRUARY 2006

 

We have a number of projects underway on campus.  The following is the status of these projects and their expected completion dates:

 

Reclaimed Water Project                                            Completion Date: February 2006

With the newly installed main reclaimed water supply lines in place, we are completing the conversion of our existing irrigated areas to reclaimed water.  We will also be adding irrigation to areas that are currently not irrigated.

 

New Child Development Center/                                   

Infant Toddler Center.                                                       Completion Date: April 2006

As part of the agreement with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, $550,000 has been provided for a permanent replacement facility for the Child Development Center and Infant Toddler Center.  Associated Students, Inc. and the Infant Toddler Center program have provided additional funds for this project.  Total funding available for this project will be over $1.5 million.  The new Center will be located east of the Birchknoll entrance to the campus immediately north of Parking Lot 1.

 

Campus Directories and Building Signage                      Completion Date: April 2006

Twenty-two new campus directories are being installed around the campus. The maps on the new directories are backlit at night.  The directories will be completed in February.  Also, the final phase of exterior building signage will be completed in April.  This phase includes the replacement of the exterior signage on LaCorte Hall and NSM with the new letter design that is used on SBS and other campus buildings.  Signage will also be placed on the College of Education building and the Field House. Additionally, signage indicating the campus name will be added to the south of the gymnasium. These efforts are designed to improve wayfinding as well as upgrade the aesthetics on campus.

 

Photovoltaic (Solar Panels) Project                         
Renewable Energy – Parking Lot 1                                   Completion
Date: June 2006

A Photovoltaic (Solar Panels) system is proposed for installation in Parking Lot 1.  This system will produce about 800,000 KWh per year.   The system will be comprised of about 3,300 panels elevated at a height of approximately 10 feet which will provide shade to a significant part of the lot.   The performance of the system is guaranteed by the contractor/system operator over the life of a 20 year agreement.  The campus will not incur capital costs for the installation and the contractor/system operator will maintain the system.  The power generated is to be purchased by the campus at a discount to the prevailing electricity rate.  This project will help us meet a CSU system goal of supporting onsite renewable electricity generation. For each tree that is removed as a result of this project, a new tree will be planted on campus to replace it. The tree variety will change so the new trees will have a lower canopy than the eucalyptus trees. We are dedicated to keeping the campus aesthetics at a high quality.

 

Library Addition                                                  Construction Start Date: Spring 2006

The project will construct a 140,500 GSF addition to the existing library that when completed and combined with the existing library space will provide sufficient resource information space to serve 12,000 FTE. The addition will be sited between the existing library and the gymnasium.  The combined project will provide for 78,050 ASF in book stacks area, of which, 15,400 ASF will be in Movable Aisle Compact Storage (MACS).  The combined project will also provide 63,552 ASF in student reader stations, 18,225 ASF in technical processing and public service areas and 2,538 ASF to provide faculty development services in the Center for Teaching and Learning. The students will be able to enjoy the use of a large number of computer work stations and enhanced seating for their studies and research.  This project is being funded as a result of the successful passage of Proposition 55 in March 2004.  This project has a total project budget including design, construction, and project management of $36,571,000.  Schematic drawings were approved by the Board of Trustees in January 2005.  Construction is expected to begin in April 2006 and be completed in 2008.  A schematic rendering can be viewed at:

http://www.csudh.edu/admfin/LibraryAdditionRenderingandProjDesc.doc

 

Student Union and Renovation                                    Completion Date: October 2006

The two-story addition includes an interior courtyard adjoining the existing Student Union building on the north side of the facility. The project consists of the renovation of the existing student union (approximately 61,000 gross square feet) and the building addition (approximately 54,000 gross square feet). The project includes an expanded bookstore, new and expanded food court, expanded student study areas and lounge space, a multicultural center, game room, sports lounge, additional space for clubs and organizations, a ballroom, and student program related administrative offices.   A schematic rendering can be viewed at:

http://www.csudh.edu/admfin/USUAdditionRenderingandProjDesc.doc 


Gymnasium Infrastructure Upgrades

Skylights/Air Handler Upgrade/New Roof                    Completion Date: March 2006

The gymnasium is having skylights installed to enhance lighting during the day and provide energy savings to the campus. An additional project in the gym will provide new lighting that is energy efficient, occupancy sensitive, and more cost efficient. All lights in the main gym will be replaced. The air handlers will be upgraded to improve energy efficiency. A significant portion of the funding for these projects is being provided by California Edison.  Additionally, the roof is being replaced.

  

PeopleSoft Implementation                                           Project Start Date: March 2005

This project is also referred to as the Common Management Systems (CMS) Project, which involves the implementation of PeopleSoft Human Resources/Payroll, Financials, and Student Administration (SA) applications. Our schedule to implement Phase I modules (General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Purchasing modules for Financials; and, Administer Workforce, Position Management, Base Benefits, and Labor Cost Distribution for HRMS) is intact for a July 2006 go live.  Recent activities include: demonstrations to our core team members; fit-gap sessions (or the understanding of the difference between our current state of business and our desired or target state); configuration and documentation; and our first set of conversion passes and validation of data. At this time, our SA project activities continue to be pre-implementation planning related.  For example, we will be preparing for a Readiness Assessment, which involves a third-party vendor assessing the ability of our campus to start the student project.

 

Physical Master Plan Review                                              Completion Date: July 2006

We have completed the initial design and review of the campus physical master plan with support from A.C. Martin Partners, the campus’ physical master plan consultant.  Key milestones for this effort were: a preliminary analysis of existing facilities, an assessment of growth and physical needs, preparation of alternative master plan scenarios to meet program objectives, and formulation of a preferred scenario that will form the basis for the final master plan.  The next phase is to begin the environmental impact report process.

  

Upgrading Information Kiosks                                 Completion Date:  February 2006

The Kiosk workstations are popular technology devices on campus for students to check grades, registration status, and print unofficial grade reports.   The Administrative Information Systems staff worked with the vendor to have three new Kiosk workstations installed.  These new Kiosk workstations are integrated with our BANNER student information system and will provide a convenient self service for our students.   The Kiosks are located in Welch Hall, the Library, and Extended Education.  Two of the kiosk stations (WH Building and Extended Education) have been installed. In addition, a PC Toro Web station has been installed at the College of Education (Small College).  This PC station does all the functions of the kiosk stations and can additionally print live class schedule and grades. The hardware for the kiosk workstation in the Library needs to be replaced.  The vendor is shipping a replacement CPU for that kiosk station.  As soon as the replacement part arrives, this kiosk station will be upgraded and put into use.

 

Automatic Software Security Patch Updates                    Completion Date: May 2006

Our Network Services staff have been working on a software system to install security patches automatically on desktop computers for staff in key departments (e.g., Payroll, Admissions Office, and Registrar’s Office).  Once completed, the software system will install Microsoft security patches on staff computers remotely and will help staff keep their computers updated with the latest security patches, thereby enhancing information security on their computers.

 

Email Storage Add-on                                                          Completion date: May 2006

In response to requests for more email storage, the Network Service staff is installing additional email servers to increase our email storage space.  When this project is completed, we will be able to increase the allowed email storage on our email servers for faculty and staff on an “as requested” basis.  Please contact the Helpdesk in May to request an increase in your email storage, if desired.  Once requested, your email storage will be increased from 200 MB to 500MB.

 

Web-based Logon for Wireless Network                             Completion date: Fall 2006

Thanks to a technology grant from the ASI, IT staff will purchase software and hardware for using Web-based logon system for using our wireless network.   Since we installed our campus wireless network, we have received feedback from students and faculty that the security configuration takes time to complete.  This new Web based sign-on system will make it easy for our students to use their wireless computers to use our campus network.

 

Five Additional Smart Carts                                     Completion date: September 2006

There has been increasing demands from faculty for more smart classrooms.  With the budget reduction, there are currently no funds for building more smart classrooms.   However, thanks to a technology grant from ASI, Instructional Media Service staff will assemble another five smart carts and put them in circulation.  These smart carts consist of a projector, speakers, and a computer and can be rolled to regular classrooms on demand.  The new carts will help relieve the demand for smart classrooms from faculty.

 

Network Single Sign-on Project                                           Completion Date: Fall 2006

Network Services staff are working on a project to simplify logins to campus servers and the network services.  The project is to implement a network software program for providing identity management and secure logons. When the project is fully implemented, faculty and staff, and eventually all students, will be able to login to the network and numerous applications, such as campus E-mail services, Banner, Peoplesoft, and Blackboard, using the same account/password. A pilot group of Information Technology (IT) staff have tested the application and its intended features are working properly.  We will begin to move faculty and staff logon accounts to this single sign-on system shortly, and will move student logon accounts to this system in fall 2006.  We are using an open-source solution and the software is being developed by our Network Services staff without incurring software costs to the University.

 

Voice and Data Cable Tracking System                            Completion Date: May 2006

We were selected by the Chancellor’s Office as the pilot campus for the implementation of Planet, a software application that will keep track of voice and data cable runs and connections across the campus. A good portion of the project has been completed by our network, telephone and helpdesk staff.  It is expected that the project will be completed in May 2006.  Once completed, our Helpdesk, Network, and Telephone Services (as well as Physical Plant and Facilities Planning) staff will be able to view cabling diagrams online without having to run around campus tracing connections from building to building. This capability will enable IT to provide more accurate information to telephone and data cabling contractors working on campus, as well as speed up their ability to troubleshoot possible voice and data connectivity problems. The Chancellor’s Office paid for the cost of the software and hardware.   This project is part of the CSU Telecommunications Infrastructure Initiative (TII), which also funded the upgrade of our campus voice/data cabling and network equipment.

 

Redundant Internet Connection                                     Completion Date: Spring 2007

Network Services staff are working with the Chancellor’s Office to bring in a second Internet connection point to the campus.  As a first step, a redundant Internet connection has been installed in the network control room in the Library building.  This second Internet connection will be activated in February 2006, which will ensure continued connectivity in the event of an equipment problem or circuit outage when one Internet connection breaks down.   By spring of 2007, the Internet connection redundancy will be further enhanced by the distribution of the two connections to different campus locations, one in the Library and the second one in Welch Hall.  This will help us avoid Internet outages caused by cabling problems on campus. The first step of the project is funded by the Chancellor’s Office.

 

Upcoming Projects:

  

CAMS High School – Phase 2                             Construction Start: Late Spring 2006

This project is proposing the construction of 14 additional classrooms/labs, food service facilities, and a dance/art studio thus completing the construction of all its facilities with the exception of a gymnasium facility.  A gymnasium facility is expected as a Phase III project. CAMS (California Academy of Math and Science) currently teaches many of their classes in the South Academic Complex which they will vacate upon the completion of this project. Additionally, courtyard space will be created as well as landscape and activity fields. This project is being built on University property currently leased to the Long Beach Unified School District for the CAMS program which is in the open area east of the sidewalk leading to Parking Lot 4.  Schematic drawings were approved by the Board of Trustees in March 2005.  The Gymnasium, when constructed, will also be built on this lease land. The project will be funded by Long Beach Unified School District and private donors.   A schematic rendering can be viewed at:

http://www.csudh.edu/admfin/CAMSPhase2RenderingandProjDesc.doc

 

Faculty/Staff Housing Project                                                            Preliminary Stages

Preliminary work is being conducted to evaluate the interest and viability of constructing Faculty/Staff Housing along University Drive on the east side of the south entrance to the campus.  This area could accommodate as many as 350 living units in a combined design of townhomes and detached homes.  The number of living units would depend on the size and mix of the units.  Some of the units will be for rent and others will be for sale on leased land.  The survey taken in the Spring 2005 indicated a significant interest in this project.  We have begun some of the initial environmental review work on the property proposed for the project.  A project of this nature will be excellent for recruitment and retention.  We have incorporated this project in our campus physical master plan and will evaluate further environmental aspects of this project.

 

Co-generation Plant                                           Initial Planning and Assessment Phase

We are in the feasibility planning stages for a co-generation plant which, if developed, would be located in the Central Plant yard. This plant would provide savings for our electrical needs as well as reduce our dependence on the state electricity providers.

 

Anschutz Partnership – Proposed Additional Development

This additional development proposes the construction of a Conference Center including a 200-room hotel, a 60,000 square foot athletics training center/office complex for users of the venue, a 50,000 square foot field house/training center for indoor sports such as basketball and volleyball, and a 240 bed dormitory facility for camps and clinics designed to train young athletes.  All of these facilities are proposed for construction on property that is currently under lease to an AEG affiliate.  The location of this additional development is proposed for the parking lot that is immediately north of the soccer stadium.  This project proposes that the developer would pay for the construction of any parking displaced by this development at another location on campus. AEG recently funded 435 of the spaces in the new parking lot 7 as part of this agreement.  No additional property will be leased to the developer, however, the developer would continue to be allowed access to parking during certain event levels as is the case under the initial agreement.  A Supplemental EIR has been completed and the project has been approved by the CSU Board of Trustees.  We are in the process of developing the agreements and the project schedule.

 

Projects Recently Completed:

 

New Parking Lot #7                                                                                           Completed

The Campus Physical Master Planning Committee, with the support of the Biology Department, approved a new 6 acre location for a nature preserve along Avalon at the southwest corner of the campus. The relocation of the nature preserve, as well as a partnership established with the Palos Verdes Land Conservancy, allowed for the construction of this new 1,035 space parking lot on the western portion of the old nature preserve which is east of the SAC Buildings.   435 of the parking spaces have been funded by the Anschutz Entertainment Group as part of the mitigation for the proposed Phase 2 hotel project.

 

Computer Upgrades in Instructional Media Lab                                              Completed

Thanks to a grant from the ASI, the 30 student computers in the Instructional Media Services, located on the first floor of the Library, have been upgraded.  In addition, the ASI also funded the purchase of 10 additional computers to enhance the service capacity of the Instructional Media Lab.   These 10 additional computers have also been installed and put to use.  The Instructional Media Lab is one of the most used computer labs on campus.  Students use the computers to listen to and watch instructional media materials and complete their assignments.  

 

Bookstore Renovation                                                    

Loker Student Union                                                                                         Completed

The interior renovation of the bookstore is complete.  The new bookstore has been expanded to 10,817 assignable square feet and significant aesthetic and functional enhancements have been made.  The temporary entrance to the bookstore is on the 2nd floor, south side of the existing Student Union building.  Once the renovation of the building is complete, the permanent entrance to the bookstore will be on the 2nd floor, north side of the building. 

 

Signage in Small College and the Library                                                      Completed

The room numbering system was redesigned in Small College to improve wayfinding and the room signs in the Library have been changed to eliminate any reference to ERC.

 

SEIR for Lights in Track and Field                                                                Completed

A Supplemental EIR was approved on February 1, 2006 by the CSU Board of Trustees to address the permanent lights in the track and field venue.  The original EIR allowed for temporary lights, however, permanent lights were installed.  The Supplemental EIR addressed the impacts of having the permanent lights in place as well as the impacts on the University Heights and the surrounding residential community for any west facing lighting.