Construction related to the new utility plant just north of the Huston Huffman Center will be delayed eight weeks, with expectations for Jenkins to re-open Aug. 19 and Lindsey on Sept. 11, OU spokesman Chris Shilling said.

Originally scheduled to be completed before the beginning of the fall semester, the project has been troubled by above-normal rainfall frequency and intensity this summer as well as unexpected delays in relocating utilities at the Lindsey and Jenkins intersection, he said.

“Crews are working around the clock to make up for as much lost time as possible,” Shilling said by e-mail. “However, not all the time can be recovered and work will continue into the fall semester.”

The utility plant and distribution system is set to provide chilled water, steam and electricity to campus buildings, he said.

Work had stopped on the installation of a storm water drainage component June 17 due to a natural gas leak and had not restarted until July 24.

The leak was caused by construction on Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue as workers punctured a natural gas line along the road.

Contruction on Collings Hall draws to a close as the new addition and renovations are nearly complete. The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education expanded to meet the growth of students and need for more classrooms and space. Jessica Parham/The Daily

Ellsworth Collings Hall

Construction on remodeling and extending Collings Hall to feature more classrooms, conference rooms and student-use space will be ready and finished before the fall semester, said Bill Moakley, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education spokesman.

With additional student space and updated technology, Moakley thinks the remodel will help the College of Education develop an identity on campus.

“Students who have traditionally had to take classes out of the building will now be in Collings Hall,” he said. “If you couple that with the new lobby, entrance and other additions, it will really give our students a new identity in terms of their place on campus.”

Approximately 15,000 sq. feet of space was added to the building, which was completely renovated to match other buildings on campus.

It also features a new bell tower entrance to give a unique campus identity for the College of Education, he said.

“Bell towers have always been associated with education,” he said. “We thought it was a unique way to mark the building while still having it fit in with the whole architectural picture of campus.”

The addition to Collings Hall includes five classrooms, two conference rooms, a new technology center, study spaces, student services and a courtyard. Heating, air conditioning, carpet, ceiling and paint have also been refurbished or replaced.

Moakley said that students in the college of education should not worry about the transition process next week.

“We will have service in one building or the other continuously,” he said. “If students need to get a hold of someone in the dean’s office, central administration or a faculty member, someone will be available.”

The College of Education Student Services Center is located in Cate Center currently. The move to Collings Hall will be finalized Aug. 9.

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