Delays in Student Success Center progress

Photo credit: University of St. Francis

With the excitement surrounding a new addition to the USF campus, the upcoming Student Success Center has been a hot topic among both students and staff. The building will be an addition to Tower Hall, connecting the auditorium and the cafeteria. 

Designed with the addition of a student lounge to Tower Hall in mind, the building will feature a three-story, two-floor structure with student-focused amenities, like the Fireside Lounge.

Unfortunately, that excitement has been dimmed by news of a construction delay. While gossip around campus suggests that an unexpected tunnel found under the construction site was the main cause of the delay, VP of IT & Planning, Terry Cottrell, can put that rumor to rest. 

Cottrell explains that it was not only the tunnel, but also old piping, moving electrical wiring, and other smaller issues, that caused the delay. 

“This is something that happens with older buildings,” explains Cottrell. 

Much of the delay can be attributed to the intricacy of adding onto an existing building. Since Tower Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus, connecting another structure to it presents its own challenges. 

“Building additions are more complex because we don't know what’s underneath the ground,” Cottrell explains. 

 “Some people might think it's a tunnel that like, Bigfoot, could fit in,” “this is a tunnel that maybe a dog could fit in.”  

Although underwhelming in size, the tunnel certainly captured imaginations, with many believing that it was the main reason for the delay. In reality, the setbacks were caused by much more ordinary issues such as electrical wiring, moving the generator and figuring out pillar placements.

While it may not be the biggest addition to the campus, being only a 7th of the cost of the science building, the Student Success Center is expected to make a significant impact on student life. The Student Success Center will provide a much-needed place to relax and gather in the heart of Tower Hall.

“I think this project will be something that people don’t talk all that much about.” Cottrell says, “Once it's finished, I think people are going to be very happy that they have a big place to gather in Tower.”

Despite these unexpected challenges, the new addition to the USF campus is still set to be completed by 2026.