Default | NEWS

2/22/2007 12:06:00 AM

This article is the fourth in a series that highlights faculty, staff and students who embody the spirit of the Vision for the Second Century.

By Lynette McGlamery
Special to the Rice News

Vision point: We must provide the spaces and facilities that will cultivate greater dynamism and vibrancy on the campus and foster our sense of community. 

Joe Buchanan’s job description doesn’t exactly say he is responsible for changing the face of the campus. But he and the other project managers in Facilities, Engineering and Planning will be doing just that over the next three to five years.

These architecture professionals will play a crucial part in Rice’s vision to bring more vibrancy and student activity to campus by managing the construction and renovation of buildings such as the Recreation Center, two residential colleges, Autry Court and a child-care center, among others.

According to Doug Tomlinson, assistant vice president for project management and engineering, there are

200 ongoing building projects in various stages, with each project manager overseeing an average of 11 projects.

“This is the highest number of projects going on at once at Rice, as far as anyone currently on staff can recall, and it is an exhilarating time for our office,” he said. “Rice is fortunate to have such a talented group with diverse architectural and engineering backgrounds to lead these projects from concept to commissioning.”

Buchanan said the key to a successful project is to assemble the complete team — including in-house engineering, facilities and maintenance experts — from the beginning.

“We select architects, engineers and consultants who are experts in the specific building type and facility being proposed,” he said. “This process takes an extensive amount of interviews and research to find the right group synergy and is key to the success of our projects.”

Buchanan’s current project management responsibilities include the Rice Data Center construction and the Rec Center and Autry Court renovations.

Simultaneously managing massive projects like these would drive some people to an early retirement. But Buchanan and the other project managers keep their cool because of their vast experience in the field.

“The quality of people we have here at Rice is exceptional, and we take great pride in providing facilities that house and encourage the mission of the university,” he said. “It’s bigger than any one person; it’s about the future and what we can create to educate students in a safe, healthy environment.”

Buchanan came to Rice in 2002 for a change of pace after nearly 30 years with various architecture firms in California, Texas and Florida. He said the diversity of projects here keeps his job interesting.

“It’s an exciting time to be at Rice,” he said. “Only a few times in a university’s history do you see such great change.”

Buchanan is especially fired up about the new Rec Center, because it will create a space that has been sorely needed for a long time.

The project is in the final stages of the pre-design phase, which entailed extensive studies and interviews over the past six months with groups both  on and off campus to determine the needs of the Rice community and to benchmark with peer universities for amenities, size and cost.

The Recreation Steering Committee’s recommendations for the center’s size, features and estimated cost are planned to be unveiled for approval to proceed into design and construction at the March board of trustees meeting.

Buchanan said the new facility is to be located on the northwest corner of Alumni Drive and Laboratory Road, across from Janice and Robert McNair Hall. The location was selected for its relationship to Rice Memorial Student Center, the Central Quad and the north playing fields, increasing the vitality that these spaces will encourage in the central part of campus, Buchanan said.

After board approval, the Rec Center will take about 12 months for design and 18 months for construction, placing the grand opening sometime in fall 2009, Buchanan said.