Hillside Cleared for Storm Nasatir Renovation

A trolley passes beneath the massive hillside excavation for the Storm Nasatir Building Complex renovation. View looks east from 55th Street. Parking garage and Arts and Letters Building are on the left, Hardy Tower behind.

The hillside immediately west of the Storm Nasatir Building Complex has been stripped to facilitate a $73-million renovation. Excavation began last month and already the massive slope has been cleared of vegetation and terraced to accommodate construction.

Workers with heavy equipment have moved tons of earth for the project which will bring the 1957 buildings into the 21st century with modern energy efficiency and current health and safety standards. Besides new faculty offices, the renovation will include new and upgraded classroom technologies, academic and research laboratories and a small food service facility.

Excavating equipment on the hillside below the Storm Nasatir Building Complex.

Once completed, the renovations to the existing 137,700 square-foot complex will offer upgraded program space for eight academic departments from the College of Arts and Letters. The makeover will also include two new lecture halls with 275 and 475 seats and will provide new windows and an exterior finish to improve the building’s energy efficiency.

The project is expected to be finished in early 2015.

Read more about the Storm Nasatir renovation project.