More construction is scheduled for the area around the Hintz Family Alumni Center, including the demolition of university buildings and the renovation of Foundry Park.

Office of Physical Plant (OPP) spokesman Paul Ruskin said the OPP is continuing to prepare for summer work, including demolishing Engineering Units D and E and shifting Foundry Park, currently located between Reber and Hammond buildings, to take its place. The changes will create room for the expansion of the Brown A parking lot, located to the north of the center, which will allow about 40 extra parking spaces.

"We will miss the buildings, but it will be a great opportunity to have an enhanced use of the space," he said.

Parking Allocation Manager Dave Dorman said parking is always an issue on campus.

"Anything that nets additional parking spaces in that area is always going to be of help," Dorman said.

The classrooms that are currently located in the engineering units will be moved to the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) building upon its completion, which is being timed to correspond with when the engineering units will be demolished, Ruskin said.

The building's original foundation, which dates back to 1913, will serve as the perimeter of the new Foundry Park. The park will include an amphitheater and provide wireless Internet access for student use.

Ruskin said the amphitheater would serve as an informal gathering for students to sit outside, or as a place for teachers to hold class on nice days. Wireless access will allow students to study outside.

"It will be a major improvement -- even better than before," he said.

During the construction, Ruskin said the service driveway behind the center will be closed for the summer and reopened in the fall. The closure will probably not affect students because the driveway is mainly used for utility vehicles, Ruskin said.

Ruskin said the buildings have outlived their practical use, but OPP will try to reuse parts of the building such as doors, hinges and windows toward other construction on campus.

OPP project manager Chad Spackman said contractors are still determining the cost of construction, which will be announced by May.

Ruskin said funding for the improvements will come from university funding and the Campus Beautification Fund.

Construction is scheduled to end by the time students return at the beginning of the fall semester.

"It will be a very busy area all summer," Ruskin added.