$39 million LeBaron construction expected to conclude in 2026

Brayton Kohl, Academics Reporter

April 28, 2024

LeBaron Hall is located on Central Campus and will be torn down and be replaced with a new building bearing the same name. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.

LeBaron Hall’s $39 million construction project will begin soon, impacting sidewalks, vehicle circulation, parking and CyRide’s 23 Orange route.

According to Liz Clarke, a project manager at Facilities Planning and Management, construction fencing is scheduled to be constructed in late June and construction will continue until summer 2026.

The Board of Regents approved the project, which has a total price tag of $39 million. University funding has been allocated to cover 22%, $8.6 million, of the project, with the remaining $30.3 million coming from private funding.

According to the capital improvement document, LeBaron’s infrastructure does not “support high-tech, innovative equipment design for program delivery and teaching, and research laboratory design does not exist and cannot be added due to structural limitations in the building.”

The university said the new building will offer contemporary learning environments that encourage independent learning and leadership development and “better prepare students by facilitating industry-based and experiential learning.” The project will add a new 100-seat general university classroom, instructional spaces and teaching laboratories to the university’s infrastructure.

The project will also renovate the circulation corridor connecting LeBaron Hall, MacKay Hall and the Human Nutritional Sciences Building. During construction, LeBaron’s large auditorium will continue holding classes.

The building will still be named LeBaron Hall.

The construction may cause some impacts on the daily routine of those navigating campus. Here’s how the construction could impact students, faculty and staff:

Morrill Road closure

Concurrent with the construction of fencing in late June, Morrill Road will not be operable west of LeBaron Hall. While the exact date is to be determined, Morrill Road south of LeBaron will temporarily serve as two-way traffic, with a turnaround near Morrill Hall.

CyRide 23 Orange reroute

Starting May 13, CyRide’s popular 23 Orange route will be rerouted, no longer stopping at Parks Library East or Beardshear Hall. Instead, the route will utilize Bissell Road for stops at Howe Hall, Upper Friley and Lake LaVerne North before continuing on its normal route at Memorial Union North.

CyRide service will change after the spring semester to accommodate for the construction for a new LeBaron Hall. (Photo courtesy of CyRide)

Parking

In order to allow for two-way traffic, some construction may close some parking spots along the road. In addition, a turnaround near Morrill Hall will allow for vehicles to smoothly travel north and south on Morrill Road.

Sidewalk closures and detours

According to Clarke, some sidewalks around the LeBaron Hall replacement construction site will be closed. Clarke also said there will be plenty of signage to assist those who utilize those sidewalks. Bicycle circulation will be impacted, as students and staff will need to walk their bikes in what the university calls a “bicycle detour (dismount zone)” located on the west side of Morrill Road west of the contraction site.

Anyone with questions regarding the project is encouraged to contact Clarke, the project manager, at [email protected] or Bart Dobson, the construction manager, at [email protected].