Phase II of Tyler Hall renovations began this semester as administrators prepare for its reopening in the fall of 2016. Only parts of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts will be allowed to move in during that time, leaving some departments unable to move in until the fall of 2018.

According to Bob Lloyd, Oswego State senior project coordinator, Phase II consists of renovating the back half of Tyler Hall including classrooms, studios, shops, faculty and staff offices, as well as storage areas for costumes and props.

“[Phase II] will include the extension of new mechanical systems, rooms finished and a small amount of reconfigurations,” Lloyd said.

According to Mitch Fields, the associate vice president for facilities services, Oswego State has committed $29.7 million to this project and is able to complete Phase II with a state capital appropriation of $18 million with the $6 million appropriated each year for 2016, 2017 and 2018 as a part of their commitment.

“SUNY gets $200 million every year annually to do this kind of work. This college gets $6 million out of that $200 million to do that project,” Fields said. “It comes out of the budget every year to work on capital facilities. There are three more years to that commitment.”

According to Lloyd, Phase I of the renovation takes place in the front half of Tyler Hall including the construction of digital media labs, complete renovation of the theater and main lobby, construction of a new state-of-the-art recording studio and the construction of a new Instrument Rehearsal Hall.  This also includes two mechanical penthouses with all-new mechanical systems.  Updating the room finishes and the reconfiguration of spaces is also included in the phase.

According to Julie Pretzat, the dean of the School of Communication, Media and the Arts, no entire department is able to move back. Only parts of the art, music and theatre departments will be able to relocate in the fall of 2016.

As of now, the School of Communication, Media and the Arts is spread across campus in Sheldon, Hewitt Union, Lanigan and Wilber. Once Tyler opens, the fine arts departments will only be in Hewitt and Tyler Hall up until Spring 2018 when Phase II is complete and Tyler will be fully occupied.

Wilber Hall is undergoing renovations this upcoming summer and the drawing, painting and design classes will be transferred to the renovated studios in Tyler Hall.

Since the choral rehearsal room and new instrumental room in Tyler Hall will be ready for the fall, the orchestra, wind and jazz ensembles will be moving out from the lower lobby of Sheldon Hall to the new spaces in Tyler Hall.

“The choirs have been rehearsing in Lanigan, so now late afternoon classes in Lanigan will no longer have musical accompaniment to their lectures,” Pretzat said.

Recording classes that have been taking place in Lanigan Hall will occupy the new recording studio built in Tyler Hall.

“I think everyone is ready to not be so spread out across campus,” Pretzat said. “It has been a real difficulty for our students, faculty and staff.”

After the building opens in the fall, Phase II of the process plans to continue as some departments move into the completed parts of the building

“Phase II will be scheduled based on the usage of the building,” Lloyd said. “The areas that will be open in the fall will be able to function as intended with minimal interruptions from the Phase II construction.”

Pretzat said the noise and construction will not disrupt student classroom activity.

“Those areas that are completed are in a different part of the building, so the construction noise and disruption should be less troublesome for them,” Pretzat said.

Despite the relocation of departments and construction continuing until the fall of 2018, Pretzat is happy that students and faculty have been so understanding.

“These types of construction projects can be very disruptive and frustrating for everyone involved,” Pretzat said. “I want to personally thank the SCMA students, faculty and staff for being as flexible and good-spirited as they have been.”

Contributors are highly anticipating the completion of this project.

“Our Major Projects group is very excited to complete the Phase I portion of work and show it off to the campus community this upcoming fall,” Lloyd said.  “It is fortunate that we will be able to roll right into Phase II and complete the entire building without any interruptions.”