FAU students looking for a comfortable walk without the South Florida heat might think twice about walking on the Boca campus after dark. Numerous areas around campus, such as the Social Science Building’s courtyard, large areas around the Arts and Letters Building, and Breezeway stairs in front of the General Science Building, have dimly lit areas and blown out light bulbs, or lack lights altogether.
“Here at Physical Plant, we are responsible for the maintenance of lights on campus,” Office Manager Sally Squire says. “A monthly report is compiled and given to the assistant director or vice president to order a work schedule.”
Heavy traffic zones such as the Breezeway, entrances to both parking garages and the patio of the new cafeteria may have proper lighting, but numerous areas remain moon-lit, showing that light bulb maintenance is an issue.
Physical Plant Assistant Director Evan Cross refused to comment on the lighting process, and the matter was transferred to John Singer, director of the plant.
“I receive the report on the 15th of every month,” Singer says. Singer says he receives a weekly repair report as a follow-up.
After every inspection, important lights are repaired or replaced, although some may be removed if there is no need for them. While many campus areas could be illuminated with a simple twist, some vicinities – such as the Administration Building and its emergency post, as well as library sidewalks – lack lighting altogether.
Concerned students hoping for new lighting would face another utility sector known as the Facilities Planning Department.
“Our most recent lighting project is a renovation,” Facilities Planning Assistant Director Joe Rainwater says. “We are revamping the SO building lights that wrap the courtyard in front of the new cafeteria.”
Rainwater explains that his department is only responsible for new additions and small projects, like lighting, and the Engineering and Utilities Department contracts new endeavors.
The Physical Plant, Facilities Planning, and the Engineering and Utilities Departments all synchronize into one light casting and changing machine that constructs, maintains and illuminates the FAU campuses. Adding additional lights is an issue that was addressed by SG Vice President Abe Cohen soon after his election.
“I don’t recall talking about proposing new campus lighting,” Cohen says. But in a May 2007 interview, Cohen claimed, “I want to push the issue of new lighting and cameras on campus which I think would make it a safer place for students.”
Associate Director of Engineering and Utilities Jeff Modlin is overseeing new lighting projects on campus at the moment.
“We’ve got a lighting improvement project going in around the Computer Science Building, Social Science and the Oxley Athletic Center parking lot,” Modlin says. “But we only have a certain budget per year.”
Since ground-breaking, FAU facilities require extensive planning, namely around the new $8 million Student Union on the Davie campus, and lighting must be thoroughly planned and executed by the individual construction company.
Lighting up a parking lot or garage would be in the hands of the Traffic and Parking Department, but the over-illuminated entrance to the Volusia Street parking garage is still maintained by the Physical Plant.
“As I believe, there are so many lights in that entrance because of the original plan to make it bright,” Modlin says. “As it turns out, they only needed a few to light the entrance sufficiently.”
The over-lit patio portion of the new Breezeway Cafeteria, which includes 45 lights in only a 100 by 25 foot area, is also maintained by another entity known as Chartwells Catering.
“I’m just as confused as you are about that design, but they’re the ones who pay the rent and electric bill for that building, not FAU,” Modlin says.
If any major lighting plans were introduced for existing areas on campus, the Engineering and Utilities Department would research cost control methods and guidelines based on access to electricity and labor; all past cost records are available on the FAU homepage at www.fauarchitecture.com.
Campus lighting remains a problem pursued only by concerned students, which at the present time is none.
“If there was a complaint or issue raised by students, I would have written a bill and proposed it to the House,” SG Vice President Cohen says. “If [the bill] was determined to be unreasonable, I would contact the university.”
Concerned students seeking a brighter campus need only to contact Marni Sherman in the Student Government Office and the SG Campus Action Committee at (561) 297-6500 or a report can be filed directly with the Physical Plant at (561) 297-2240.
