Dear UM Family,

As you may know, we are in an exciting time of campus renewal projects and activities that, over the coming years, will comprise the most ambitious updates undertaken at UM in recent memory. Newly completed projects as part of this renewal effort include:

• A full renovation of Urey Lecture Hall.
• A refresh of Pantzer Residence Hall.
• The Welcome Center and Admissions Office in the Gilkey Building.
• The Learning Commons in Mansfield Library.
• Updated recital and choral spaces in the Music Building.

The next phase of major construction includes these projects:

• The Combined Heat and Power facility near Washington-Grizzly Stadium. This state-of-the-art facility will provide significant energy and cost savings and create less reliance on off-campus energy infrastructure. Construction on the CHP began last September and is scheduled for completion by December 2022.
   
• A new UM Campus Dining Facility. You may have noticed the construction fencing and signage around Craig Hall and the Lommasson Building as contractors prepare the site for a unique and beautiful new facility befitting UM’s world-class culinary programs. The facility will include options for incredible dining, as well as gathering spaces with views of the Oval and Mount Sentinel. At part of this project, a portion of Craig Hall is being removed, along with the east end of the Lommasson Building. Student Services located in Lommasson will move to Aber Hall (where we’ve completely renovated the first through sixth floors) in late February or early March. Completion of the upper floors of Aber Hall will be completed in subsequent years.
   
• A major redesign and renovation of Knowles Hall. Originally built in 1962, Knowles Hall is scheduled for a complete makeover, including new furnishings and fixtures in the rooms, reconfigured spaces to accommodate expanded lounge and study areas, a community kitchen and classroom, and an exterior facelift.
   
• A new home for the Montana Museum of Art & Culture, thanks to transformational gifts from the Terry and Patt Payne Family and other donors. MMAC is home to one of the oldest and deepest art collections in the Rocky Mountain Northwest. We anticipate project completion in spring 2023.

This is a partial list of projects you’ll see underway in 2022. Other exciting initiatives will include major exterior lighting upgrades and new campus signage and way finding. We like to say, "Excitement is Building," as we await and anticipate their completion.

At the same time, we acknowledge that so much construction activity is disruptive to campus in many ways, including changes to building access, parking and sidewalks, along with noise and increased heavy equipment and truck traffic. We will work hard to share construction updates, address frequently-asked-questions and provide notice regarding significant upcoming disruptions.

We have created the email account campusconstruction@mso.umt.edu for questions, feedback or concerns regarding campus construction, which is monitored by UM’s Facilities Services team. This not only enables us to respond to questions in a timely manner, but to share FAQs or identify other information to share broadly in campus wide updates.

Updated information will also be posted to the Facilities Services website under Construction & Renovation.

We are excited to be entering this next phase of projects and appreciate your patience as we work through the many complexities and details of these endeavors. Please know that our priority during construction is the safety of our community and those working to complete projects. We will work to minimize disruption where we can, proactively communicate about impacts, timelines and progress, and be available to address questions, concerns or other feedback.