Over the past few years students have witnessed ongoing changes in construction around campus. Many of those changes include the MSC, parking, parking meters, classroom upgrades and the latest unveiling of the basketball courts this past summer. Students often question how the money designated for campus upgrades was spent.
Dianne Walker, construction and planning manager, explained that all funds that students are charged for campus upgrades in student life are saved until there is enough money to start a new project on campus.
Walker said that one of the major projects students voted on to have charged to their student fees was the building of the basketball courts. Once there was enough money, Walker and her team of architects began building during the 2005-2006 school year, and opened the courts in summer 2006.
On the campus of PVAMU, Walker is in charge of new construction, remodels, infrastructure and construction. She hires engineers based on what the faculty, staff and students request.
Walker said, “It was a pleasure working on the basketball courts and I thank the student body for agreeing to have that money taken out their fees.”
The outside basketball courts, which are located at the student park, consist of three courts with six goals, an extensive paint job and a 24-hour lighting system so basketball games can carry on throughout the night. Along with the courts, upgrades were made to the pavilion. New electrical wiring and plug-ins are in place for DJ access and vending machines.
“Our job here is to carry out Dr. Wright’s vision to upgrade student life and the addition of the new basketball courts have done that,” Walker said.
Walker noted that many other projects are in the works, including two parking lots located at Hobart Taylor and across from ROTC building.