Students learned earlier this semester Tichenor Hall, home to the Department of Communication and Journalism, the Instructional Multimedia Group and the Office of Information Technology, is empty and closed for renovation as of December 2006.
Work is in progress, however, because bids to construction companies for the project were distributed, and a bid from J.A. Lett Construction Co. Inc. was finalized March 11.
The project contract is for $2,719,785.
Originally, bids were to be received March 3 and construction was planned to begin in April.
John Mouton, senior adviser to the president, said on-site construction is planned to begin “in about a month,” and the project completion is scheduled for April 2009.
“We understand that the University is in the process of executing the contract,” said Scotty Lett, president and owner of J.A. Lett Construction.
“Our company has been working on campus for 45 years. We’ve always had great relationships with the University and look forward to working on this new project.”
J.A. Lett Construction Co. Inc. was established in 1956 and is a local Butler building representative.
Other projects for J.A. Lett Construction include the Lambda Chi fraternity house, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house, the Auburn University Pavilion and the 3-D Art Center.
“The primary components in the renovation project are a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, electrical upgrades, modifications to the restrooms and modifications to make the building fully ADA compliant as well as fire and life safety compliant,” Mouton said. “There are also modifications to make the building function better.”
