Board of Regents moves ahead on building projects

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents voted to authorize funding for two building projects and to obtain assistance in planning future building projects during a meeting on campus Tuesday.

Turner Construction Company was selected by regents to provide construction program management for upcoming projects.

“As a result of the amount of construction the university will be engaged in, we felt we needed a company to offer construction program assessment services, planning management and review,” said Danny Gallant, interim vice president for finance and administration. “This provides an opportunity to prioritize projects and ensure top-quality engineering and code compliance.”

The company has completed 21 “Green” projects, worth approximately $13.1 billion. The building projects utilize practices and techniques to reduce the impact of a building on the environment. Efficiency is increased in the use of energy, water and materials, and the buildings’ impact on human health and the environment is improved through better site selection, design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

Also on Tuesday the board of regents moved forward plans for the Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing, approving a project budget and beginning the search for an architect.

Earlier this year, the Texas legislature passed House Bill 1775 authorizing the construction of the nursing school on a 17-acre property donated to SFA by Lucille and the late Richard DeWitt. The site, which has appraised for $1.4 million, formerly served as a distribution center for the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants owned by the DeWitts.