Behind the scenes: small campus projects can make a big difference to life at NGU
Laci Jarrell, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of North Greenville University
While major construction projects can transform a campus, smaller repairs and renovations at North Greenville University help preserve the spaces students and faculty rely on and enjoy every day.
One recent project involved updates to the campus gas station at Wood’s General Store. Managed by Tigerville Operations and led by Billy Watson, senior associate vice president for Tigerville Operations, the project included updating the station’s canopy and upgrading the computer systems on the gas pumps.
Watson said the canopy was updated to give the station a more modern appearance and make it more visible from the road. The project also addressed new government regulations regarding safety measures and payment systems, requiring updates to the pumps’ computer technology.
Watson said, “We also were able to add features like tap to pay.”
Tigerville Operations also hopes to add new features to the pump screens. The screens are expected to display brief videos like campus announcements and other university information. These features would give drivers access to campus updates while fueling their vehicles.
While the gas station updates are visible to the campus community, other projects focus on maintaining the facilities students and faculty use every day.
Kyle Walden is the vice president for Campus Enhancement Services. He explained that even though there are no major construction projects happening on campus, the university has been working through small renovations and mechanical projects.
One example is the recent mechanical work in the chemistry lab in the Crain Science building. According to Walden, the university repaired and replaced equipment that had partially failed, allowing the department to offer lab sections at capacity.
“Deciding which projects to pursue requires several factors,” Walden explained.
These factors include cost, project length, the impact on the campus community and the availability of the space during construction.
The university has also completed maintenance work on the Prayer Chapel, an on-campus space where students can pray and study the Bible.
Walden said that the Prayer Chapel was closed at the beginning of the semester due to some maintenance concerns involving the water feature. Repairs were also made to the roof.
Walden said, “These repairs will not necessarily improve the function of the chapel but will preserve it for the use of the students, faculty, staff and visitors of the campus.”
According to Walden, the Prayer Chapel provides a space for the community to come together to anonymously share their burdens, pray for each other and even study God’s Word in a quiet environment. This is something that Walden wants to preserve for current and future NGU communities.
Although no major campus construction projects are currently underway, Tigerville Operations and Campus Enhancement Services continue to maintain and improve spaces that support students, faculty and staff in their academic work and campus life.
