Construction on Webster University’s new Interdisciplinary Science Building (ISB) and remodeled parking garage will continue throughout the fall semester, and the university is looking for solutions to the newly-limited parking situation on campus.
The expansion of the parking garage, which is expected to be finished in 2017, will ultimately add around 550 new parking spots to campus. In the meantime, Webster will add several alternative auxiliary parking lots.
The university purchased several off-campus lots, including that of the recently closed Webster Groves YMCA, as parking space primarily for staff and vendors. Reserved parking spots on campus that were not frequently used will now be available for public use.
According to Webster Director of Public Safety Rick Gerger parking permits for 692 students and 427 faculty and staff members have been issued for the upcoming semester.
In a press release, the university also encouraged students to pursue other ways of avoiding parking inconveniences. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Enterprise car rental program and the new bike racks on campus. Students who choose to carpool to campus will also receive an incentive – the chance to win raffle prizes throughout the year.
The press release also offers students who purchased a parking passes but want to pursue other transportation options a full refund through Sept. 2.
Currently, around a dozen parking spaces near the bookstore are blocked off as a construction crew installs a new storm water line, but this is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
However, the construction will also have a permanent effect on some campus parking options. The parking lot outside Pearson House will not return, due to the construction of the ISB.
During the first week of the semester, construction has begun on Level 0 of the ISB, the structural steel that will form the building’s foundation. During this time, according to Webster News, students in Lot K, near Sam Priest House, “should be aware of an increase in truck traffic while the structural steel is being delivered and erected and should consider that there could be minor delays entering or exiting the lot.”
This phase of the construction, as well as waterproofing of the steel, is expected to be completed Aug. 26.
Weekly updates on the ongoing construction projects are provided online at webster.edu/construction. A construction camera is also livestreaming images of the ongoing work.
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