U-Store set to begin renovations next month

After more than a year of delays, Borough authorities have approved plans for a large-scale renovation to the U-Store building.

The first phase of the project — the construction of an additional elevator and an extended-hours convenience store — will tentatively begin March 6, according to U-Store Director of Operations John Augustine.

Renovation of the U-Store has been postponed repeatedly because of concerns about the load capacity of the third floor, which under the store's new design will house textbooks and much of the inventory currently located on the ground floor.

Rudolph Pedicini, co-consultant for Professional Plan Examiners of Union, N.J., said his organization was contracted by the Borough to ensure that the U-Store's renovation plans complied with building codes.

To address concerns about the third floor's weight-bearing capacity, PPE brought in a structural engineer to determine if the store's infrastructure was capable of supporting the books that will be housed on the 10,000-sq. ft. floor.

"Just last week our plans were passed by PPE," Augustine said yesterday. "The [building] contractors now have the plans and are with the Borough and in the process of getting the permits."

Frequent disappointment

The approval brings to an end more than a year of frequent disappointment for U-Store officials. The first draft of plans was brought before the Borough last April, and construction originally was expected to be completed by last September.

"It's a relief that we're finally through this phase of the project," Augustine said. "We're very excited about this. We're ready for it, and we can't wait until it's all done."

Improvements to the U-Store will include a 2,000-sq. ft. convenience store, which will have a separate entrance and extended hours "dependent on the needs of the University," according to Augustine.

In addition to the elevator, the ground floor will offer school supplies, stationery and photo developing services. Clothing, insignia merchandise and apparel will be offered on the second floor.

Students visiting the U-Store may notice the new changes beginning to take place as store officials prepare for construction. Employees have begun to clear out the basement floor and have reorganized some areas on the second floor.

"This week we're already beginning to clear the areas where tentatively the construction is set to begin," Augustine said.

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The architecture firm for the renovations is Kramer, Schipp and Daggett, Inc. of Pasadena, Calif. The Yedlin Company, based in Princeton, is the building contractor for the project, according to Augustine.