Watts gave the State of the University address a couple days ago. Looks like UAB is about to start a construction boom across campus.
-New football operations center
-New School of Nursing building/expansion (breaking ground next month)
-New School of Business (breaking ground in Dec)
-New College of Arts & Sciences building (breaking ground in 2017)
-New Genomic Medicine & Data Sciences Research building (2017)
-Complete renovation of Campbell Hall
-New intramural fields on the block between 5th & 6th Ave S and 11th & 12th St South
-Beautification project along 10th Ave S for $2M adding bike lanes, landscaping, and new crosswalks in summer of 2017
-Softball stadium expansion
-New UAB police HQ
Watts mentioned that student housing demand has increased faster than anticipated and the University is overbooked right now. He said they have a study underway regarding building another dorm.
Also said that final enrollment numbers should be in the 19,500 range which is a good jump. Hopefully next year is the 1st time we break 20,000.
Great news. Wishing more for 10th reno project. Why can't folks figure out bike lanes are best placed next to sidewalks?! Parked cars can then be used to buffer bikers from moving traffic. At any rate, good stuff.
Our spending is based on demand and I am sure the funds are there to pay for the projects. Those projects are all needed. The fact that we have to build another dorm is huge.
(09-16-2016 07:03 AM)uab278 Wrote: [ -> ]Our spending is based on demand and I am sure the funds are there to pay for the projects. Those projects are all needed. The fact that we have to build another dorm is huge.
Yep. The master plan shows another dorm on top of what is now the international house & sorority square next to the most recent dorm with a courtyard in the middle of the two.
(09-16-2016 07:03 AM)uab278 Wrote: [ -> ]Our spending is based on demand and I am sure the funds are there to pay for the projects. Those projects are all needed. The fact that we have to build another dorm is huge.
After the Bryant Bank Board Bozos' Billion-dollar Bad-debt Boondoggle down at "the university," oversight has to be a serious concern.
(09-16-2016 12:44 AM)BirminghamBound Wrote: [ -> ]Great news. Wishing more for 10th reno project. Why can't folks figure out bike lanes are best placed next to sidewalks?! Parked cars can then be used to buffer bikers from moving traffic. At any rate, good stuff.
Because the cars will always park all the way to the curb, thus blocking that bike lane.
(09-16-2016 06:49 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone concerned that we may be on too much of a spending spree?
What happens to the system if UAB gets up to it's neck in debt?
Seems really strange from spending almost nothing for years to going berzerk spending.
I know what the response will be - hey, let's be happy they are allowing us to spend, but seems like a little too much all of sudden.
I'm concerned with that at pretty much every college across the country. Eventually the cost of going to college is going to exceed the value of what a university provides. Tuition keeps going up, and projects like these keep taking place.
These are similar to the pitches many universities are using to seek inclusion in better conferences. I wonder if this is well timed? Could Ray really be working to help us get into a better conference?
(09-16-2016 10:18 AM)ICB Wrote: [ -> ]These are similar to the pitches many universities are using to seek inclusion in better conferences. I wonder if this is well timed? Could Ray really be working to help us get into a better conference?
Watts said there should be over $400M in construction projects over the next 4-5 years. That's close to what Memphis was promising for a Big 12 invitation.
(09-16-2016 07:03 AM)uab278 Wrote: [ -> ]Our spending is based on demand and I am sure the funds are there to pay for the projects. Those projects are all needed. The fact that we have to build another dorm is huge.
After the Bryant Bank Board Bozos' Billion-dollar Bad-debt Boondoggle down at "the university," oversight has to be a serious concern.
(09-16-2016 06:49 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone concerned that we may be on too much of a spending spree?
What happens to the system if UAB gets up to it's neck in debt?
Seems really strange from spending almost nothing for years to going berzerk spending.
I know what the response will be - hey, let's be happy they are allowing us to spend, but seems like a little too much all of sudden.
I'm concerned with that at pretty much every college across the country. Eventually the cost of going to college is going to exceed the value of what a university provides. Tuition keeps going up, and projects like these keep taking place.
I dont see that ever happening in a competitive society. When the demand goes down then the prices will too. Right now demand is up not only here but across the board so prices are high and so is the spending.
(09-16-2016 06:49 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone concerned that we may be on too much of a spending spree?
What happens to the system if UAB gets up to it's neck in debt?
Seems really strange from spending almost nothing for years to going berzerk spending.
I know what the response will be - hey, let's be happy they are allowing us to spend, but seems like a little too much all of sudden.
I'm concerned with that at pretty much every college across the country. Eventually the cost of going to college is going to exceed the value of what a university provides. Tuition keeps going up, and projects like these keep taking place.
I dont see that ever happening in a competitive society. When the demand goes down then the prices will too. Right now demand is up not only here but across the board so prices are high and so is the spending.
The costs of post secondary education can be cut by reducing teaching staff (members &/or salaries), reducing variety of course offerings, reducing support services to the school (reduced security, transportation, custodial etc) and capping enrollment among others. Costs for the medical side are much less elastic since doctors can always drop out of academic medicine for private practice where more money is available.
In our present "global economy" push for competitive advantage, the universities have what amounts to hostages in this confrontation. Young people are culturally assured they need what the universities offer in order to make enough income for the 21st century middle class life style. In America, if you can't afford the education you need, you can just settle for less and remain on the side lines of the economy. Since half of American households annually make less than $50,000, the sidelines are heavily populated.
(09-16-2016 12:44 AM)BirminghamBound Wrote: [ -> ]Great news. Wishing more for 10th reno project. Why can't folks figure out bike lanes are best placed next to sidewalks?! Parked cars can then be used to buffer bikers from moving traffic. At any rate, good stuff.
Because the cars will always park all the way to the curb, thus blocking that bike lane.
Protected bike lanes (which honestly should be done whether they are placed on the inside or the outside of the parked cars) solves this. Regardless, most drivers instinctively know not to break solid lines and park in bike lanes. Delivery drivers on the other hand...
Bike lanes can be protected by low concrete barriers like used in many parking lots. Under Alabama law, bicycles are "vehicles" just like automobiles and are supposed to be "driven" under the same rules and in the same direction. Legally, the bicycle rider has no more right to use sidewalks than one driving a car. It has been proven that bicycle riders need more protection than just painting stripes on the street, but these other protections are more expensive to provide.
(09-16-2016 06:49 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone concerned that we may be on too much of a spending spree?
What happens to the system if UAB gets up to it's neck in debt?
Seems really strange from spending almost nothing for years to going berzerk spending.
I know what the response will be - hey, let's be happy they are allowing us to spend, but seems like a little too much all of sudden.
I'm concerned with that at pretty much every college across the country. Eventually the cost of going to college is going to exceed the value of what a university provides. Tuition keeps going up, and projects like these keep taking place.
I dont see that ever happening in a competitive society. When the demand goes down then the prices will too. Right now demand is up not only here but across the board so prices are high and so is the spending.
This is not the first construction spending spree in UAB history and won't be the last.
(09-16-2016 06:49 AM)the_blazerman Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone concerned that we may be on too much of a spending spree?
What happens to the system if UAB gets up to it's neck in debt?
Seems really strange from spending almost nothing for years to going berzerk spending.
I know what the response will be - hey, let's be happy they are allowing us to spend, but seems like a little too much all of sudden.
I'm concerned with that at pretty much every college across the country. Eventually the cost of going to college is going to exceed the value of what a university provides. Tuition keeps going up, and projects like these keep taking place.
I dont see that ever happening in a competitive society. When the demand goes down then the prices will too. Right now demand is up not only here but across the board so prices are high and so is the spending.
This is not the first construction spending spree in UAB history and won't be the last.
Exactly. Mid 2000s saw a big construction spree too.
Campus Green -2008
Blazer Hall - 2006
Heritage Hall - 2008
Rec Center - 2006
Shelby Research Building - 2006