FAU’s Breezeway Renovations Draw Closer to Completion

By: Michael Demyan

Photos by Michael Demyan

Students returning to Florida Atlantic University last week for the start of the fall semester were in for a surprise as the first portion of renovations to the Breezeway were completed, however they still have to wait a little longer for it to be completely finished.

The new look features a modern looking ceiling and slip-resistant sidewalk, but the most noticeable addition is probably the new artwork right before the south entrance, featuring the “I love FAU” motto alongside the owl logo.

The Breezeway has been a part of the university since the beginning. President Lyndon B. Johnson even set foot on it before speaking at the FAU dedication ceremony in 1964.

Today, it sees the most foot traffic than any other place on campus and it had been in need of a renovation for years. While one would think it would be a great place to stroll through during heavy rain, it would often leak, leading students to maneuver around puddles and dripping water like a maze.

FAU decided to go forward with plans for a major upgrade to the Breezeway for the first time since it was built and phase one of the renovations began on June 20, 2016 through Turner Construction and M.C. Harry & Associates, Inc. Details of the renovation plans included waterproofing, repairing the concrete, and roof replacement, along with adding LED lights and improving the restrooms.

During the planning stage, original budget estimates for the project sat around $2.5 million. When construction began, it increased to a final total of $3.4 million, but earlier this year that number ballooned to $4.4 million due to unforeseen circumstances during the first phase of renovations.

“Concrete and structural repairs required additional engineering input,” FAU design and construction services director Numa Rais said. “What we found in the core of the beams was different from what the original construction drawings from the 1960s were showing.”

That ended up pushing back the planned completion of phase one by a month and a half to mid-July of this year. Consequently, the final completion date moved from its originally announced date of November to March 2018. Since then, however, the schedule was revised to combine phases two and three, which moved the date back up to Dec. 22 of this year.

Students may still be facing minor inconveniences from short detours, but many are simply anticipating the finished product.

FAU junior Tyler Shoens, 22, just started his first semester at the university, so he has yet to attend classes with the Breezeway fully opened. He feels that the construction has not been much of an issue while walking from class to class.

“It’s kind of annoying with all the noise and the fences, but I mean, it’s not a hindrance for me,” he said.

Luckily for those who are used to walking the full stretch of the Breezeway, they will be able to do so when the green fences that have decorated the area for over a year are removed before the start of the spring semester.