Amongst all the changes happening around the University of New Haven campus, the construction of the new residence building has entered its Blasting Phase.

Construction on the building was expected to originally start at the end of the spring semester 2013, however due to the university’s complicated financing package, the financing wasn’t in place and details were still being worked out. This did not add to the total cost, and it actually allowed UNH to take the time and refine the design to make sure everything was done the proper way.

Louis Annino, Associate Vice President for Facilities, stated in an email last week sent out the UNH community, that, when completed, the 140,000 square foot New Student Housing Project will provide 370 new on-campus housing opportunities, activity space, food services and parking.

Currently the construction zone has blocked off many student parking spots, but as part of the construction project, Thomas R. Harry, Executive Director of Program Management, said there will be 175 more parking spots as well.

The current parking spots that are blocked off, will be reopened for use at the appropriate time following the progress made on the project, and in addition to the new parking spots that will be made, Annino said that a new exit will be created.

“This past week heavy construction equipment began excavating the site in preparation for the forming and pouring of the foundations. This activity will continue over the next month with the goal of erecting and enclosing the building by December. As part of the site preparation, there are areas where rock and ledge will need to be removed. This will require a certain amount of drilling and blasting,” said Annino in his email. The blasting began Monday, September 9.

Annino also explained in his email that drilling and blasting technique being employed for the project is a safe and commonly used technique for fracturing rock into smaller pieces, which can then be either reused on the site or trucked away. Holes are drilled in the rock to create a ‘perforation’ not too different than perforation used in paper to tear in a straight line. These drilled holes are then packed with carefully sized ‘charges’ calculated to release the right amount of energy to crack the rock between the drill holes. Where drill holes are in close proximity to each other, smaller charges are needed to fracture the rock.

Monday there was only one blast event. It was used as a test to ensure that the equipment operates correctly and safely. Blasting progressed to site excavation Tuesday, September 10. “After the blasting phase,” Harry explained, “workers will begin excavating the site in preparation for concrete foundations. When the forming and pouring of concrete foundations is complete, the building superstructure will be erected.”

“Essentially this is an easier process and higher quality, also safer, since the structure is made away from the campus and brought to the construction site. Eventually students will begin to see the structure grow,” said Annino.

Annino added that the next milestone for the building is for it to be weathered tight. This will help the construction process so that workers can continue to work on the inside of the building during the winter.

Scheduling and safety protocols are followed each day to ensure that students are safe and the procedures are being done appropriately. The area is fenced off with identifying signs. The area is secured and only authorized personnel are allowed within the fenced area.

“Shortly, there will be a project website so the UNH community can monitor the progress of the project, and we are working towards completing the project for the 2014 fall semester,” said Harry.