by Allison Checkeye / staff writer
The almighty ditch: The ditch around Chambers Hall is preparatory for the new back entrance.
After three months of construction, the renovation project for Chambers Hall has encountered a problem.

Although indefinite, the giant trench which is being dug around the back entrance to the building, has reached nearly 20 feet below the sidewalk, and may create a safety hazard for students.

The back entrance to Chambers Hall may need to be closed this week, at the discretion of the project planners.

“The biggest problem is trying to accommodate all the activity that’s going on, and to build inside occupied space,” Joe Olczak, director of plant maintenance, said.

These changes, which were designed to create more space for athletic coach offices, lockers, and the new fitness center, have greatly affected the Pitt-Greensburg athletic teams. Yet, the students and coaches seem to handle the inconveniences with good spirits.

“They have had to make accommodations with space and equipment,” Olczak said. “They’ve had to work around it, but everyone’s been very accommodating.”

After this semester is over, Chambers Hall’s back entrance will be shut until May, to allow time for contractors to add new stairs, doors and to “demo” the new space.

The new layout will include the following: upon entering the back doors, two spaces for coach offices on the right, and the new fitness center on the left. The fitness center will feature glass walls, and more space than the old center. It will be built over the old storage part of the building which sticks out the back, creating a second story there.

On the first floor, in the space where the old fitness center and racquetball rooms were, will be locker space, and a new therapy room. The project will be topped off with a new back entrance.

“I think everyone will be pleased with the look, and the entrance,” Olczak said. “That entrance will look like a front entrance.”

The entire construction project, which has an estimated cost of 2.5 million dollars, is expected to be completed on August 14, 2009.