Getting from one side of Boise State to another isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. Construction projects across campus have rerouted walkways, closed familiar paths and forced students to rethink how they move around campus.
For freshman Owen Christensen, construction makes navigating through the university more difficult while he is still learning his way around campus.
“The main thing for me is that it’s tricky trying to learn all of this with the construction,” Christensen said. “I’m learning the detours before I even know the traditional way I would get around campus.”
As previously reported by The Arbiter, Boise State received $90 million from the state in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 for more than 50 deferred-maintenance projects including roofs, boilers, HVAC and electrical systems, fire alarms, elevators and underground utility tunnels.
“That money comes from the state, and we have a set amount of time to spend it,” said Brittany Austin, the deputy director of Architectural and Engineering Services.
Although projects may appear to be happening all at once, Austin says that Boise State’s funding for the construction has been phased over three years and must be spent by the end of next fall.
“We’re under a crunch of a deadline to do that,” Austin said.
The Capital Renewal Program is only one piece of the construction happening across campus. Projects range from infrastructure repairs in the Quad and Education Building to work affecting the Greenbelt, parking areas and Student Union.
The work also comes as Boise State prepares for future campus growth. The university’s 10-year Campus Master Plan, approved in April, anticipates Boise State’s student population will grow 9% to about 21,900 by 2034. The growth is expected to increase demand for housing, parking and academic space.
One of the most visible projects is the steam tunnel refurbishment throughout the Quad, where crews are replacing the network of pipes that provide steam and chilled water to campus buildings. Drew Alexander, vice president of campus operations, previously told The Arbiter that the three-phase project is currently in phase two and expected to be completed in November 2027. However, the current phase of the project is the most disruptive.
Fencing currently blocks some of the direct walkways between the Albertsons Library and the Mathematics building, requiring students to walk around portions of the Quad.
The changing routes can become especially difficult when students have limited time to get to and from classes.
“You’ve got 15 minutes to make it to class, so you learn, ‘I go through the SUB and take this specific trail to get there,’”said freshman Dylan Delacy. “With the construction, you can’t consistently have those same routes.”
Delacy experienced that firsthand when construction near the library forced him to take a detour that added about 10 minutes to his walk to class.
“Construction is inherently disruptive, and so we try to minimize that as much as possible,” Austin said.
Boise State schedules disruptive work during the summer and off-hours when possible and asks contractors to limit noisy work during dead week and finals. The length of current projects, however, makes some construction during the semester unavoidable.
The current phase of Quad construction is expected to wrap up in late fall, with portions of the existing fence coming down before fencing for phase three is installed.
Construction also affected commuters with the replacing and widening of the Greenbelt between Theatre Lane and Broadway Bridge. Phased repaving in the West Stadium lot and along Bronco Lane is also scheduled to continue through Sept. 11.
Other projects are taking place inside campus buildings. In April, Boise State announced a sponsorship agreement with WestMark Credit Union worth more than $8.5 million over 10 years, with part of the funding going towards improvements in the Student Union and student programs.
All three elevators in the Education Building are also being repaired and refurbished. Crews are taking them offline one at a time, which can lead to longer wait times while fewer elevators are available.
Austin said Boise State uses its interactive campus map and a current projects hub to communicate closures and construction timelines. Students who have specific construction questions are recommended to contact Architectural and Engineering Services directly.
Despite temporary interruptions, The Capital Renewal Program’s purpose is to extend the life of Boise State’s existing infrastructure and ensure campus facilities continue functioning for future students.
“What needs the most help, and how do we make sure it’s here for generations to come?” said Austin.
Austin acknowledges the steam tunnel project may feel like a never-ending process that students experience every day, but described the construction as a commitment to campus longevity.
“It is a once-in-a-generation replacement… an investment into the school,” Austin said.
