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What’s the Buzz on….Construction / Renovation on Campus
Question:
How is it possible that the University is experiencing budgetary problems
in regard to funding of curriculum and staffing yet we are still able
to construct new buildings or renovate existing ones?
As you may have heard, the money for building renovations and construction
comes from different funding sources than does, for example, support for
general operations such as classes or employee compensation. The funding
for construction is dedicated solely for construction and comes mainly
from State Bonds through voter approval. In regard to Sonoma’s projects,
below are listed the buildings that are currently being constructed or
those that will begin in the near future (or were just completed) as well
as information of the funding sources.
Darwin Hall Renovation
The voters of the State of California approved the sale of state bonds
to accomplish specific construction projects at the CSU as well as at
the K-12 and community colleges. The renovation of Darwin Hall was one
of those projects. The State allocated $29 million to SSU to be spent
on the following: Renovate Darwin Hall 1) so that the building is brought
up to the State safety code, 2) so that all deferred maintenance is accomplished
so that the 30 year old building will now last another 50 years without
further repair and 3) so that the building be modernized in order to create
a learning environment appropriate for the future in the sciences. These
goals must be achieved or the funds returned.
Student Recreation Center
Through a student-sponsored referendum in Fall 2000, SSU students voted
to increase their fees in order to construct and operate a recreation/fitness
center on the campus. That $15.2 million, 59,000 sq. ft. facility will
have three courts, multipurpose rooms for aerobic and dance/movement activities,
fitness/weight equipment room, indoor jogging track, climbing wall, game
room, hot tub, and support space such as offices, restrooms, and locker
rooms. Students who helped pay for the center through their fees, but
who subsequently graduated, will have a one-year free membership once
the center opens.
Green Music Center
Fundraising for the $39 million concert hall of the Green Music Center
is nearing completion. Thanks to a $3 million gift from Evert and Norma
Person through the Evert B. and Ruth Finley Person Foundation (who in
1990 also donated a $3 million endowment toward the operations of the
Evert B. Person Theatre) brought fundraising for the GMC to within $1
million of starting construction. All money needed to build the GMC comes
from private donations. Once the building is complete, it will be gifted
to the CSU Board of Trustees which means that the University will receive
$6.40 per sq. ft. per year for needs such as utilities, custodial, grounds
keeping, maintenance, etc.
Student Housing (Beaujolais Village, Phase I and Phase II)
Funding for constructing Beaujolais Village, for both phases I and II,
is provided by the CSU system that sells State Revenue Bonds to investors.
The revenue generated from the Beaujolais students' rent is pledged to
pay off these bonds. This funding arrangement is similar to an individual
obtaining a mortgage to purchase a house and then making monthly payments
to pay off the mortgage. The demand for student housing has been very
high in the past few years which is expected to continue as apartment
and house rentals in the surrounding communities are a challenge for students
to pay. On campus students pay between $600-730 per month (more for a
meal plan which students generally purchase if they don’t live in
Beaujolais or Sauvignon which have kitchens in the suites). This monthly
rent includes all utilities, access to University's computer network,
cable television, local phone service, and all furnishings.
Warren Auditorium
Minor Capital Outlay (projects under $400,000) funds were given to the
campus (also from the sale of state bonds) to correct architectural barriers
to disabled accessibility. There was no wheelchair access to the Warren
stage and so it was one of a series of such Americans with Disabilities
Act corrections that the State was willing to fund through the sale of
bonds. The campus added funds as deferred maintenance to replace the deteriorating
seats in the room.
10/24/03