Building renovations in Schichtl and McAlister halls are projected to be finished in April and cost about $6 million, according to the physical plant.
UCA has been renovating Schichtl since last June, said Danielle Barron, director of planning, design and construction for the physical plant.
The project has had no delays in construction and is projected to cost UCA about $3 million, Barron said.
UCA hired two contractors to complete the Schichtl renovations.
“Schichtl is a two-part project. Mechanical was done by Faulkner Plumbing and Mechanical. The renovation portion is being done by Nabholz Construction,” Barron said over email. “Both are UCA JOC [job order contracting] contractors and are used regularly.”
Schichtl Hall previously housed the Department of Art and Design before it relocated to the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, the newest building on campus.
After the renovations are completed, “Schichtl will house Norbert O. Schedler Honors College, Living Learning Communities, and the Center for Global Learning and Engagement,” Barron said.
Schichtl is on track for completion in April and has had no delays, Barron said.
Barron said the mechanical renovations for the buildings include “replacing fan coil units, AHUs/Boilers [air handling units], and other components of the HVAC systems [which] improves the indoor air quality of the building.”
The renovations in McAlister Hall started in August 2022 with mechanical renovations and have had delays, Barron said.
The McAlister renovations are a multi-phase project consisting of a new roof and mechanical and building renovations with a total cost of around $3 million, Barron said.
“Kinco Constructors, Mid-Ark Roofing, and Faulkner Plumbing and Mechanical were the main contractors on the project. Again, all are JOC contractors for UCA,” Barron said.
“The renovation portion was funded by a historic grant called ANCRC [Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council],” Barron said.
The ANCRC granted $549,537 for “updating and renovating McAlister Hall,” according to a UCA news release.
The news release stated the renovations were projected to be completed before fall 2023 and included restoring the east lobby to its original design; renovating restrooms to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; turning a storage area into a family-friendly restroom; renovating the student lounge; building a new Nutrition and Family Sciences Community Engagement Center; renovating the Nutrition and Family Sciences reception suite and building an accessible ramp at the south entrance.
McAlister Hall is part of the UCA Historic District, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2013.
The other buildings in the historic district are Old Main, Ida Waldran Auditorium, Harrin Hall, Wingo Hall, the President’s House, McCastlain Hall, Bernard Hall and Ferguson Memorial Chapel, according to the press release.