University Business - April 2008 - (Page 35)

CASE STUDY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY’S COMPTON UNION BUILDING CUB • ANTICIPATED GRAND OPEN internal views—has proven to be rather boring, in Lannigan’s estimation. He’s ING: August 2008 • THE CHALLENGE: Through a fee, had far better results in building excitestudents are funding $60 million of ment and answering questions with esthe $86 million needed to renovate the corted tours. He’ll also eavesdrop a bit student union. The project has taken while walking by. “I’ve heard a couple of place over four years, so many student students say, ‘Well, they spent $86 milgovernment members don’t know what lion and it looks basically the same— it’s like to have this kind of facility on what did they do?’ So it’s been very imcampus. “We’ve spent a fair amount portant to get people in the building,” of time trying to educate newcomers he explains. Of course, the school could CREATIVE CORNER CONSTRUCTION COMMUNICATION DOESN’T have to focus solely on road closings. Here’s how some clever professionals have used the opportunity for positive PR: • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) officials invited a renowned artist to work her magic on the construction site by turning it into a nightly light sculpture in January 2008. They kicked off the threeweek event with a hot cider and chestnuts reception. Even those living across the Hudson River could see the results during the festivities. • Lisa Albert in Texas Christian University’s communications office creates a Facebook group for construction projects. It then becomes the perfect place to announce the grand opening plans. “The viral nature of this tool is amazing,” she says. She also takes digital footage of construction and posts it online to accompany update stories. • Duke University’s architect was invited to attend Coach Krzyzewski’s businessman basketball camp—whose participants tend to be influential and affluent—to give a tour/update on the new 50,000 square-foot practice facility under way. • When officials at Muhlenberg College (Pa.) discovered students weren’t renting space in the new dorm being built off-site through modular construction, they arranged for a factory tour for an in-progress look. When the dorm was completed, the construction company sponsored a pizza party for 165 students and administrators. Dorm applications are no longer a problem. The completed union building will provide amenities such as increased student meeting space, more late-night entertainment venues, and a technology-enhanced auditorium. about the project, explain where we stand, the decisions left to make, and how they can get involved,” says project manager Jeff Lannigan. • THE AUDIENCE: WSU needs to stay in regular contact with students, as well as the 10 commercial and retail tenants who will occupy the space. Faculty, Lannigan says, haven’t seemed as interested, but the local chamber of commerce has, and the WSU team has met twice with this group at its request. • TOOLS: With most of the work taking place inside, a live webcam—originally set up outside and now showing easily overwhelm contractors with tours, so Lannigan is selective with the groups he invites. Primary targets are student groups that will have offices in the union and folks enrolled in associated majors, such as interior design. Lannigan’s department also tries to accommodate all legitimate requests. He also maintains a close working relationship with the student newspaper, inviting even reporters to attend steering committee meetings. “We really haven’t had anything come back and bite us. They are pretty good about staying in tune and getting the word out,” he says. CONSTRUCTION COMMUNICATION CRIB NOTES NEED TO COMMUNICATE THE PROGress on a construction project to constituents? Consider using: A daily update hotline. E-mail blast updates. A Facebook group. Faculty/staff briefings. Information sheets. Newsletters. An online countdown clock to completion. • Open forums. • Site webcams. • Site tours and events. • Strategic invites to committee meetings. • Student newspaper interviews. • • • • • • • universitybusiness.com April 2008 | 35 http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - April 2008

University Business - April 2008
Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Stats Watch
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Future Shock
On The Hill
Facilities Focus
Independent Outlook
Ready, Set, Respond
Small Steps to Safety
Admissions
Lecture Capture: A Fresh Look
Internet Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
End Note

University Business - April 2008