Graham Center Entrance Under Construction

Tiana Henry / Contributing Writer

The FIU Graham Center will have a fresh look with a familiar design this fall semester. 

The GC south entryway has been under construction due to repairs.

The final project titled “GC South Entry Stone Replacement,” costs approximately $189,000 in GC operations funds, authorized by the university’s Student Government Association. The construction company Synergy General Contracting is said to have submitted the lowest bid on the project according to James R. Wassenaar, director of Facilities Planning and Operations at FIU.

“The structure behind the granite was weak and it was failing,” said Alexander Rubido, president of SGA. “This project is to maintain the safety of the GC building itself.”

An engineering firm was initially hired in reviewing the structure of the GC building such as installing mounting points for signage banners.

In the assessment made by the firm, the building’s existing system showed signs of needed repairs including issues with water intrusion, the ground level of the building, and a new Keystone Facade, according to Wassenaar.

The Keystone Façade is the architectural piece placed within the middle of the arch which locks the structure into place; this particular piece is placed during the last phase of construction. 

The repair will address three main concerns: water intrusion through the keystone façade, the keystone facade compromising the structure, and the safety concerns if not attended to in a timely manner. 

“[The] project that was initiated to address water intrusion through the keystone facade, which had begun to [compromise] the substructure [of the building], would pose a safety concern if not addressed in a timely manner.” Wassenaar stated in an email to PantherNOW.

Since the keystone façade naturally absorbs water, with time, the moisture deteriorates the metal which has compromised the building’s structural integrity.

The South Entrance will include upgrades to the lighting and a replica of the previous building sign “Ernest R. Graham University Center.”

There has been no confirmation as to a new and improved disability ramp being included within this project. Wassenaar said the current ramp will remain with its original design. 

Fencing surrounds Graham Center south entrance under construction in June. Jordan Coll / PantherNOW

Rubido noted the goals of the project’s timeline.

“The purpose of starting [during summer] is that there wasn’t very much foot traffic at the university and including during Summer,” said Rubido. “Usually any renovations or repairs to buildings, floors or anything like that will happen towards the end of Spring, start of Summer.” 

PantherNOW has reached out several times to Wassenaar for the engineering report but has not received further information on the project.